CHAPTER – 14
Silence gripped at Isha's anger. Abhyansh is furious at his wife's disrespect towards him in front of everyone but the tears in her eyes made him weak stopping him from taking any measure against her as a king.
"No one is supposed to use that tone with me Rani sa, not even you", he said sternly trying to calm himself down... he decided to talk to her alone as he didn't want to create a scene in front of the family, at the same time, he wanted to tend to his wife who seemed unusually mad. She never shouted at anyone in that pitch, let alone his most trusted man Bhairav.
He walked towards her to hold her wrist but she swiftly jerked her hand before he could even touch it.
"Isha...", he said exasperated, silently asking her not to test his patience but today she is too hurt. If her orders are not respected, why did her husband even give her the power?? Why did he always ask to command instead of gently requesting? What kind of a queen is she if her request isn't considered, and her pleas are ignored?? She felt humiliated.
"Do you know what happened today??", Isha asked, trying to contain her anger, she didn't want to disrespect her husband... Abhyansh looked at her hinting her to walk inside but she ignored it. She wanted to deal with this issue in the hall itself, in front of everyone as it's not just between the two but is related to the family. This is downright injustice in the name of power which Bhairav did with Avyan seeing Abhyansh's support. That's what Isha thought.
Abhyansh looked at Bhairav who seemed guilty of hurting the queen but he could see the pride in his eyes, the same pride he found every time he followed Abhyansh's orders. He sighed understanding Bhairav wasn't wrong on his part, though he wasn't aware of the matter yet.
"Do you know what Bhairav did??", she asked again
"I don't, but I trust Bhairav, I'll address whatever the issue is, you don't need to get hyper, hold your emotions", Abhyansh said in his usual monotonous tone but softness underlying in it didn't go unnoticed, but his statement instead of calming her, made her angrier seeing him taking Bhairav's side.
"Rana sa... you don't even know the issue and you are already defending him", she said extremely upset...
"Because I know him for years Rani sa...", he said sternly, angry at her for questioning him in front of everyone which never happened before...
Devyani Devi, Amruta, and Avyan stood stunned at the conversation that was taking place, they were seeing Abhyansh conversing for the first time in decades but their heartbeat is rising every minute, afraid he would again hurt Isha and their relationship would go back to square one, not knowing that their relationship is beyond that stage to stumble due to petty things.
"Right, but you don't know me for years, so I can't be trusted, is that what you imply ??", she asked, she was so angry for the first time in her life and she wasn't in a situation to control her words or see where she is.
"ISHA...", Abhyansh said in a warning tone, how did she even think that he didn't trust her, he trusted her the most equal to Bhairav... "tell me what happened ??", he asked calming himself down, not wanting to hurt his wife with his words.
"He burnt Avyan's car just because I sat in it, I requested, pleaded with him, ordered him, but he didn't listen to me", Isha said controlling her anger and tears at the same time... seeing the tears in her eyes, Abhyansh's fury intensified, he glared at Bhairav who lowered his head unable to take the icy glare, but Abhyansh knew he did what he was supposed to do. It was he who ordered Bhairav to do so, not once but more than twice.
Isha expected her husband to realize her pain without her saying it out loud like he always does, she expected him to take her side but the next words that came out of his mouth made her furious more than hurt.
"It's Bhairav's duty Rani sa... he was just following my orders", Abhyansh said, now he regretted not revoking his orders after things settled down... now this caused pain to his wife, which he hated... he swiftly looked at his brother who looked hurt but he was now more concerned for his sister-in-law. He knew Avyan saved for 3 years to buy that car, he remembered watching his brother from afar dancing in happiness around the car, and clicking hundreds of pictures with it. It was his dream car, he could understand his wife's point but he can't reprimand Bhairav because it's not his fault.
He also knew Isha was very upset and angry, otherwise, she wouldn't argue with him in front of people, she always maintained her dignity and his respect in front of people but today, he could see that rage in her eyes.
Isha gulped her pain and disappointment at her husband before uttering something that not only shocked Abhyansh but everyone else.
"Even after being 'Rani sa' just like you ask everyone to address me, there is no respect for my word, so what's the use of this namesake title?? Today, I, Isha Abhyansh Singh Ranawat strip the title off my name, I am not 'Rani sa' anymore, just a wife to you", she said wiping the tears that slipped her eyes. "Bhairav... hume maaf kardijiye, hume aapse uche awaaz mein baat nahi krni chahiye thi (Bhairav... please forgive me, I shouldn't have raised my tone at you)", Isha said joining her hands...
"Rani sa...", Bhairav said folding his hands lowering his head... the woman whom he respected a lot, in fact the most, after his king folded her hands in front of him, there is nothing more painful than this to him...it made him ashamed.
Abhyansh is stunned to even respond for a second, he didn't expect his wife to say this ever... he knew she is hurt but not this hurt... he hated his wife apologizing to Bhairav.
"Rani sa...you are a queen and you will remain so...", Abhyansh said coldly, his dangerously calm tone caused everyone to gulp in fear including Isha but she didn't budge... Bhairav knew he will face the consequences later for making the queen ask forgiveness from him though he had little to do in it.
"I may be, but I don't consider myself a queen anymore, people address me as Rani sa, but I was made to believe otherwise, so from today, I'm not gonna respond if anyone calls me with that name, if someone wants to address me, call me by my name... it's Isha, just Isha", she said very calmly and turned to walk away...
"Rani sa...", Abhyansh called but she didn't stop walking... "Rani sa...", he called again... "RANI SA...", he called her again, his tone increased with every time, causing everyone to shiver in fear but Isha didn't stop, shocking everyone at herintrepidity. She soon reached out of the hearing range, and slowly tears made their way...
"Isha...", Abhyansh called in a relatively lower tone, as if he is saying it to himself but his family and Bhairav heard it, their eyes widened, they never saw Abhyansh Singh Ranawat breaking his resolute for someone else, instead of breaking Isha's stubbornness just like he does to everyone, he changed his way and called her Isha but it didn't stop her as she was already out of the hearing range.
Bhairav opened his mouth to apologize but Abhyansh walked away before he could say something. Bhairav regretted hurting Isha, he wished Abhyansh took Isha's side, but he also knew the king had his own values he would change for no one.
Abhyansh rushed to their room in their chamber, but his wife was nowhere to be seen... after finding her location, he walked to one of his bedrooms, which he rarely used these days, he used to sleep there when his mood was terribly dark, or he badly wanted to avenge someone. That room witnessed the darkest and wildest thoughts of his. But he avoided spending any time in that room as his wife hated the interiors there, she said it was too dark but when he saw her sitting in the very same room, he knew something was terribly wrong.
"Leave me alone Abhyansh...", she said sensing his presence...
"Talk to me Isha...", he said nearing her but she shook her head without turning towards him...
"Leave me alone please, I don't want to talk to anyone now... especially you", she said but he was adamant... he knew she was hurting and he couldn't let her in pain even for a second, it physically ached him but he was bound by his principles, it wasn't Bhairav's fault, so how could he blame him for it ?? Yes, he could have accepted his fault and he indirectly did for her by saying Bhairav did so just because he asked him to. He expected her to blame him, shout at him considering how furious she was, but instead, she dropped the title 'Rani sa' shocking him...
She didn't say a word, he sat beside her, and slowly reached to pull her into his arms, when she jerked his hands off harshly before getting on her feet...
"Why are you here ?? Why can't you leave me alone ??", she shouted angrily, tears slipping out of her eyes, her voice cracking... he stood up and pulled her into a hug which made her tears slip furiously...
"I know you are in pain... I can't see you in pain my bacha... I'm sorry, I had no choice...", he whispered, ruffling her hair, while she sobbed into his chest...
She felt humiliated and insulted when Bhairav refused to listen to her, she hated when her promise to Avyan broke, she never broke promises, just because she promised to stay with her husband forever in their marriage, she bore all his torture but never considered divorce, not even when her brother tried to help her... her father once told her, that breaking promises is the biggest sin for a Rajput, and from then she tried to keep all her promises, and today's incident had hurt her too much. And then came the last string when her husband who is the main reason for what happened to Avyan's car, supported Bhairav instead of feeling 'sorry' for what happened.
After some time, she composed herself, she moved away from his arms and sat on the couch...
"I'm sorry that this happened, I should have revoked my orders but I didn't...", he started but she cut him off...
"You are the king, you can do anything, who would question you huh ?? No one has the right to, and the one who questions you thinking it to be her right will be shut down like this, showing her, her real place", she said pointing at herself and for some reason, her words threw daggers at his heart, but he didn't say a word, he wanted her to let out all the things she is feeling, he wanted her to burst out her anger... "it wouldn't have hurt me if I was treated like before, I was in an illusion that I am a queen and I'm respected, and you made me feel so, but today I saw the reality... I feel as if I was being pushed from the top of the building... I promised Avyan I would not let anything happen to his favourite car", she said chuckling to herself... "as if I had that power... poor he... trusted me...", she said and Abhyansh felt the ache in her tone...
"Isha... I'm sorry", he said, he didn't know what else to say...
"Why didn't you apologize in front of everyone if you know it's your fault ?? No actually, why would you ?? What would happen to the tough image of the great Abhyansh Singh Ranawat ??", Isha mocked and he sighed...
"You want me to ?? Will that make you fine and get your pain vanish ??", he asked calmly... he could do it for her, he could do anything for her...but those tears and her pain had to stop. he can't see it.
"No, it won't... tell me one thing ?? When my words have no value, why do you portray as if they do ?? I absolutely have no problem in living like the other people in your family are living, I never asked you for power neither do I need it, I'm happy by being just your wife then why did you keep telling me that I'm the queen and I had to act like one ??", she asked
"It isn't like that, my word holds the highest power for anyone, if your orders are against mine, anyone will have to follow mine... it's made to keep all of you safe, try to understand", he said, people can fool his family but not him. He made this rule not only to hold the ultimate power but also to safeguard his people and family.
For say, Avyan doesn't have the right to stop security from following him, (that follows him at times when he travels to places other than work). Even if he asks not to follow him, the security still does to ensure his safety according to Abhyansh's orders ignoring Avyan's. Isha understood this pattern but what happened today was not anything threatening their security. It was just a blind rule they followed like many others which she hated.
"You told me this before and I understood, when Avyan went against me and took Anshi to the CD, I didn't react like this, did I ?? Because I understood, but now ?? Putting his car on fire just because I sat in it ?? What kind of a rule is that ?? Is it any danger that you have to prevent ?? Or do I have a contagious disease that your right-hand man had to burn your brother's car to stop it from spreading ??", Isha shouted
"Stop it Rani sa... it's getting too much now...", he said angrily her talk about herself in that manner.
"Why ?? Can't handle the hard reality on how your people treat your wife ?? Or you have no answers to my questions", she asked
"It's a rule that's made for the safety, it will have no exceptions, just because the incident is minor and do not have consequences. It is a practice to follow my orders and it will continue like this, try to get accommodated to this", he said sternly
"I won't... because this is wrong, you can't keep hurting your family, because of these baseless rules, you could follow this at times of danger, I'm sure your men are smart enough to figure out where to follow this practice and where not to... Avyan is terribly hurt, why can't you make a change in rules that's hurting your family ??", she fought back
"It's not that easy... the system I have been running for decades is used to this, all this won't suddenly happen", he said trying to make her understand and controlling his fury. He never had to argue with anyone, it's either his way or no way but his wife is changing things, without even realizing it.
"At least try Abhyansh", she argued
"Bacha...why are you being so stubborn ??", he asked softly cupping her cheeks
"Because I'm hurt Rana sa, why can't you understand ?? Put yourself in my shoes and think... How am I supposed to feel when my brother-in-law's most prized possession is burnt into ashes just because I sat in it, that too my husband ordered for it ?? And worse, when I promised to prevent that from happening, it might look like a petty issue for you, but it's not... do you think I could ever look into Avyan's eyes after this ??", she asked, tears slipping, why isn't he understanding her ?? Did her disrespect not matter to him?? She knew it did, it did a lot, but his actions this time were not giving her much hope.
"Please... don't cry", he said wiping her tears, he couldn't see her in pain, but what she is asking for was huge, he couldn't bring such big changes into force, these things are for all of their safety... he tries to keep all the power and control in his hands leaving only little for his family, a little more to his wife and brother. He trusts only himself when it came to their safety, not even themselves.
"Abhyansh... you don't get it, do you ??", she asked sighing...
"I do, but Isha... you need to.....", he started but she cut him off...
"I understand... please leave from here, right now, your presence isn't making me feel any better, instead getting me angrier, which I don't want to...", she said wiping her tears, and walking to the washroom banging the door leaving her husband to control the urge to punch the wall with all the anger he is feeling for himself.
She came out after washing her face and sighed deeply seeing her husband standing there still waiting for her.
"Why are you still here??", she asked
"Rani sa... I can't let you be mad at me, tell me, will you be happy if we get a new car for Avyan?? A better model??", he asked, he knew he was going against his words, which said Avyan wouldn't be getting another car but his wife was hurt already, he would do anything possible to make her feel better.
"We?? I am sorry Rana sa, I can't afford a car, and don't call me Rani sa. I already made it clear, didn't I??", she said standing her ground.
"Isha... are we really gonna do this??", he said, he thanked Lord Shiva for recently gifting him patience. Isha shrugged her shoulders. "you are my wife, whatever is mine is yours, how long will it take you to understand", he asked at her nonchalant attitude testing his patience.
"No, whatever is yours isn't mine, today is another example of it... except for your family, I don't want to own anything related to you, it only causes pain", she said taunting him...
"What do you want from me ??", he asked exasperated... he can't do this anymore.
"Peace", she said showing him the door... he cupped her face and gently kissed her forehead leaving a sigh.
"I didn't want to hurt you my bacha... I am sorry, think about what I said with a clear mind... please don't cry... if you want you can do anything to me, I won't say a thing... but don't get hurt", he said gently wiping her lashes which are wet due to her earlier tears... she just nodded and he walked away after kissing her forehead again...
Her tear-filled eyes didn't leave his head. He called Bhairav in, his fury intensified looking at him but he couldn't even say a thing to him, because he wasn't wrong.
He just asked Bhairav to order the best car that suits Avyan till night. Bhairav bowed and left from there to immediately get to work. He wanted to do everything to make their Rani sa feel better.