31
"Can I have those yellow flowers too," Vaishu asked the little girl in the stall.
"Here you go," said the girl with a smile handing over the flowers. "Woww!" she exclaimed when her eyes fell on Vaishu's bracelet. "This is so beautiful," she said carefully brushing her hand over, "Who got you this akka?" she asked.
"My husband," Vaishu smiled and looked at me.
"Really? I should find my husband and ask him to get me one too," the little girl said innocently and Vaishu laughed.
"If you like it so much, take it," she said but paused to look at me as if asking for permission.
"No need to ask Vaishu," I reminded. Vaishu smiled and gave the girl her bracelet.
Meanwhile we heard a nervous voice call Vaishu's name.
"Vaishu beta," the temple preist said worried, "What are you doing here? Everything alright? Does the king know-"
"He does panditji," I answered on behalf of Vaishu. It took a few seconds for the pandit to recognize my face behind my fake moustache but the moment he did, his eyes widened in fear and surprise.
"Your high-"
"Panditji," Vaishu interrupted before he could reveal my identity. She looked around to indicate that we are in public and wish to remain in disguise.
"Call me Adi," I told the pandit.
"No..no I cannot call you by your name," the pandit immediately replied.
I shook my head in disappointment.
Sometimes I really wish people realize that behind 'King Adinath' and 'His highness' there is a little boy who wishes to let go of the titles and be normal for once.
"Then call him by some other name," Vaishu suggested taking both of us by surprise, "Shiva sounds good."
"Beta I cannot..." the panditji stopped when he heard the sounds of the temple bells.
"Devi mata has reminded us just in time," he smiled, "Today we have a special pooja for couples. It is going to start soon. You and...." the pandit hesitated for a breif second, "You and Shiva should go join," he completed.
A genuine smile showed up on my face.
Finally am being treated normal!
"Let's go," Vaishu said and we quickly made our way to take part in the pooja.
"General stop walking so fast," I complained, "I cannot keep up."
"That is the whole point," the general said as he climbed up the stairs of the temple. "Wait till I get a hold of them," he said angrily as he stormed across the hallway.
Is he seriously talking about the King and the Queen? Does he really have that much power over them or is he pranking me again?
"There they are," the general said when he finally found them amongst a huge gathering of married couples performing some pooja.
"Wait," I held his hand and stopped him before he could approach them, "You cannot interrupt someone in the middle of rituals. It is a sin."
"I comitted a lot of sins in my life Gati," the general plainly stated, "and I am already being punished with your presence so....not a big deal."
This man! If I had the power right now, I would bury him into the darkest pits of hell!
Anyway, I need to be calm!
"It would bring bad omen to the couple too," I added and he immediately stopped.
"Bhaisaab, there is one more slot in the pooja. Would you like to join?" one of the volunteers asked us.
"No we are not-"
"Yes," the general replied.
"Great, follow me," the volunteer said and walked away.
"How dare you?" I asked the general angrily, "I would rather die before I sit beside you in the pooja."
"I will help you with that later on. Help me first," the general said blantly annoying me further.
"You are arrogant, cruel, and evil," I said out of spite, "The only way I will ever help you is if you say - Please forgive me, noble women and help me with your gracious presence."
"Please forgive me noble women and help me with your gracious presence," he said in the most uninterested and boring way....but the fact that he actually said...and did so without any hesitation made me fall in love with him....again....
"Should I fall on your feet too?" he asked angrily once again reminding me of why I hated him in the first palce.
"I will plan that for some other time," I said dramatically turning my face away from him and went to sit with him in the pooja.
"Why is this bowl so small?" I asked as I looked at the leaf bowl in which lemon rice was served as prasad, "There is no way I would be able to pick up the prasad without letting a few grains fall on the floor."
Vaishu started laughing.
"You find that funny?" I asked offended.
"Maybe," she giggled.
Wow, overthinking Vaishu did not show up yet! Thank you so much Devi ma!
Let me assess how far I can go.
"Instead of laughing at your husband....why not teach him the right way," I asked pretending to be angry.
"How could I possibly dare to teach the king of the nine kingdoms?" Vaishu taunted.
I love this version of Vaishu so much! We should probably abandon the palace and stay in the temple. Well, I need to, atleast playfully, be angry...so I shook my head and signed.
However, what Vaishu did next took me by surprise.
She took the bowl from my hand and lovingly offered to feed me.
I remained still and did not open my mouth. I am not sure if it is visible but my heart was filled with immense happiness and emotions that I could not contemplate.
"Do you not want me to-" Vaishu tried to move away but I held her hand and took my first bite.
The plan was to take them to the palace right after the pooja but when I saw the queen so affectionately help the king eat....my heart melted.
Adi lost his mother when he was 5 and since then I do not think anyone has ever been this affectionate towards him.
The silver spoons he had were not able to compensate for the mother's love he lacked and to see him turning into a little kid again.
..is beautiful to witness.....I cannot spoil his joy.
"Come on, man," Gati interrupted my thoughts, "Stop looking at them like that. They are giving prasadh for everyone. Here, I got you one."
"Did anyone ever tell you how crazy you are?" I asked annoyed.
"Yes," she answered, "They say that everytime they find me interacting with you."
I rolled my eyes.
"Do you want the prasadh or not?" Gati asked again a little louder.
I signed and took the prasadh.
"This is for you," one of the women approached us and gave a red chunni to Sruthi.
"What is this?" Sruthi asked.
"Beta this chunni was kept near Mata Rani's feet," the pandit replied. "On the day of Vijayadasami, ask Shiva to drape it on you as a veil. The ritual will be completed and Devi ma will ensure that you remain happily together forever."
I looked at Adi and smiled.
"Certainly Panditji," Adi said and together we took his blessings.
"Today was a very happy day, wasn't it," I asked Adi as the pandit left. He smiled and nodded.
"That is because you, in a shockingly impressive way, stopped overthinking," he replied.
"Could be the temple," I said, "I see my mother within the deity...so this place feels like home."
"Oh so this is my in-laws place?" Adi joked, "Why was I not being pampered then? Why are you not rushing to get me tea and snacks?"
"Would that be enough?" I asked playfully, "Or do you want me to press you legs too?"
Adi looked at the ferocious looking Kalika Devi idol and then back at me.
"I would not dare," he confessed making me giggle.
"Assuming you both had enough fun," we heard the general's voice interrupting our laughter. "Time to go home, your highness," he said looking at the king, "and discuss the consequences of your actions."
Please vote ??
How's the chapter?