32
I completely understand that not everyone wants to follow without exploring multiple books of the author, so no hard feelings at all ??
We were standing in the middle of the palace. Vaishu and I on one side, Sruthi at a distance opposite to us, soldiers in their respective guarding positions and the happiest man alive, the general, right infront of us 'respectfully' waiting for me to say the golden words.
"Everyone except for the general leave," I said all the soldiers immediately bowed and dispersed. However, Sruthi stayed, anxiously biting her nails, waiting for the drama to unfold, whispering something to herself which I am sure is just her cursing the general.
"Sruthi!" I called to remind her.
"Uh...right.." Sruthi said as she looked around and realized that she needs to leave. "I apologize your highness," she said and quickly left.
The moment the doors closed, the general's entire demeanor changed. He was still standing and looking the same but his eyes were angry instead of the usual caring and respectful. All I could see is a pissed off 'Nandu Bhaiyya' and ironically I now miss my loyal general.
"What the hell were you thinking?" he asked calmly but sternly. ".....Your highness," he purposefully delayed the title to make sure his question carried more weight.
"General," Vaishu spoke before I could speak, "Adi is not at fault here. I was very disappointed at not being able to visit the temple and all he wanted to do was to make me happy."
"I know, your highness," the general said in softer tone, "and I find that commendable. I really do....but we cannot ignore the fact that he also put both himself and you in danger."
"Danger?" I said offended, "General, you out of everyone, should know that I am more than capable of protecting myself and my wife."
"Respectully, your highness," the general said turning towards me, "that statement did not hold true today. You were not even aware of the fact that I was behind you right from the beginning of the pooja."
Vaishu and I looked at each other confused.
Was he? Damn! Perhaps I was so very much immersed in love!
"Anything else to say in your defence, your highness?" the general said still glaring at me.
I looked at him angrily as I could sense that while he is genuinely concerned, a part of him is also extremely happy at the opportunity to punish me.
"No," I answered reluctantly, "I am at fault and am willing to accept the consequences."
"Are you insane?" Vaishu asked instinctively.
I looked at her surprised. While, I absolutely do not mind her calling me insane....I do not want it to be infront of my greatest enemy...Vaishu immediately realized the general's presence too and started panicking...no Vaishu....it's not panic worthy....
I was about to console her but the general spoke before me.
"I did not hear that, your highness," he immediately told her.
"And...you did not see us leave the palace too?" Vaishu innocently asked taking both of us by surprise.
Wow! My wife is smart!
The general was flabestered and did not know what to say.
I could see that he really really wanted to smile but couldn't given that he is in an authoritative position.
Well...atleast now he knows how hard it is to be 'the devil who never smiles'.
He looked at me as if asking for help. I placed my hands on my hips, smiled and raised my eyebrows as if proudly challenging him to handle my wife.
I general looked down and cleared his throat to buy a little time.
"I did not see you leave the palace, your highness," he said after a while, "but I did see the king and he will be punished."
"General..." Vaishu signed.
"And the reason I did not see you is because I am your White Knight and I am oblidged to not do anything that would hurt you in the slightest," he continued.
"How is punishing my husband not going to hurt me?" Vaishu asked.
"It is not going to hurt you because the punishment is for him to remain within the confinements of the royal compound for the next three days," the general said and Vaishu immediately cheered up while the smile on my face disappeared.
"He will get to spend more time with you," the general added.
"Nice," Vaishu smiled.
"No, not nice Vaishu," I calmly told her before taking a step forward to fight with the general.
"Have you gone mad general?" I asked angrily, "You are supossed to punish me, not my people. What made you think me abandoning my royal duties is going to do anyone any good?"
"I never stopped you from doing your royal duties, your highness," the general replied, "You are free to do whatever you want....."
"Within the confinements of the royal compound?
" I completed, "Where inside the royal compound do you expect me to host the royal court with hundrends of people.
...and do you have any idea how many cases will pile up if we do not run the court for three whole days?
How am I supossed to establish any sort of normalcy after that chaos? "
The general smiled almost as if he was proud that he triggered me.
"That is the punishment, your highness," he said calmly.
I swear this man has a sadist inside him. He is just taking revenge. He finds joy in hurting me. I will kill him. Yes, I will kill him the moment I get a chance but now....unfortunately....I do not have any upper hand....
"The only reason I am walking away right now is because I know that I am at fault," I said gritting my teeth and stormed out of the hallway.
I watched as Adi stormed out of the hallway and my eyes were filled with tears. I really did not envision this day to end so bad.
"Your highness, why are you sad?" the general asked surprised.
"I kept thinking....that today was going so well..." I said trying hard to control my tears, "a part of me knew...something bad is going to eventually happen but....for you and Adi to fight....all because of me is...."
"Your highness, you have nothing to do with our disputes," the general immediately interrupted, "The king and I always had conflicts.....to the extent that we sometimes wish to kill each other....but they always get resolved as quick as they start."
"but general...."
"Your highness, let me assure you," the general said, "Your tears would hurt me and the king a lot more than any of our petty disputes ever could."
I remained silent partly because I have no words to express how much it means to me to be loved to this extend. Adi is a blessing in my life as he is, but the general....the general is the brother I never knew I needed.
"You and the king have no eaten anything but the prashadh since morning....I will ask Sruthi to send dinner to your chambers. Make sure you both eat before you go to sleep," the general continued. "And smile a little because that is the only thing that can calm down that angry young man."
I instinctively smiled and the general smiled back.
"I will see you tomorrow, your highness," he said and was about to leave when I called him, "Nandu bhaiyya."
The general looked back plesantly surprised.
"Is this....how your sister addresses you?" I asked him.
"That is how all my siblings address me, your highness," the general smiled before leaving.