Chapter 7-The Maids Chamber
Vinaya did not cry in front of him.
That became important later.
At the time, it was simply survival.
She removed the heaviest part of her veil, folded it over one arm and walked toward the adjoining door Vikram had opened.
The room beyond was small.
Painfully so.
One narrow bed.
A washstand.
A wooden wardrobe.
A single window.
Vinaya looked at it.
"What is this?"
Vikram's anger had begun cooling.
Perhaps now he could hear himself.
"Priya's personal maid used it."
Something inside Vinaya went numb.
Of course.
She nodded.
"Good night, Your Highness."
"Vinaya—"
She closed the door.
Only then did she cry.
Silently at first.
Then with one hand pressed over her mouth because humiliation was easier to endure if no one heard it happening.
Queen Lakshmidevi learned the truth before breakfast.
Vinaya had barely finished dressing when someone knocked.
The Queen entered.
One look at the narrow bed told her everything.
Her face went white.
"Who put you here?"
Vinaya stood.
"Your Majesty—"
"Who?"
"Please."
Lakshmidevi turned toward the adjoining door.
"Vikram!"
Vinaya caught her hand.
The Queen stared.
"Please don't."
"He put his bride in a servant's room."
"He was upset."
"That is not an explanation."
"It was Priya's chamber."
"And you are his wife."
Vinaya looked down.
Lakshmidevi's voice softened instantly.
"Oh, child."
That almost made the tears return.
Vinaya shook her head.
"If you fight with him because of me, it will make everything worse."
"He should be ashamed."
"I don't want him forced to give me her room."
"You should never have been placed there in the first place."
"I know."
The Queen stopped.
Vinaya's answer seemed to surprise her.
Good.
Vinaya was tired of everyone thinking shyness meant she did not understand when she was being humiliated.
"I want another room," she said.
Lakshmidevi nodded immediately.
"You will have one."
"Not Priya's."
"No."
"And please don't make him share it."
The Queen's expression became sad.
"Vinaya."
"I don't want a husband ordered into my bed."
Lakshmidevi had no answer to that.
Vinaya was given rooms in the eastern wing.
Beautiful ones.
Her belongings were unpacked.
Samudrapuri suddenly existed in small pieces around her.
Books.
Jewelry.
A carved shell from her childhood.
Her mother's embroidered cushion.
Vinaya touched each one.
Home.
Far away.
There was a knock.
Vikram stood outside.
She almost refused him entrance.
Almost.
"Come in."
He entered.
Looked around.
"These rooms are suitable?"
"Yes."
"I should have arranged them before the wedding."
"Yes."
His eyes flicked toward hers.
Apparently, he was not accustomed to people agreeing when he criticized himself.
"I was angry last night."
"I noticed."
"I shouldn't have spoken to you that way."
Vinaya waited.
There were dozens of things she could say.
Instead:
"No."
Vikram exhaled.
"You don't make apologies easy."
"I didn't know I was supposed to."
His mouth almost moved.
Then he became serious.
"The western rooms will remain closed."
"Of course."
Something in her tone made him hesitate.
"To everyone."
Vinaya understood.
Not merely until he was ready.
Forever.
Priya's rooms would remain Priya's.
Vinaya would remain elsewhere.
Physically.
Symbolically.
She nodded.
"All right."
Vikram seemed relieved.
That hurt more than it should have.
Then he added, "Your residence here will be permanent."
Vinaya frowned.
"These rooms?"
"Yes."
"You mean after..."
She stopped.
After they became husband and wife properly.
After their marriage became real.
Vikram understood.
His expression closed.
"Yes."
Vinaya looked toward the bed in her new chamber.
Large.
Beautiful.
Empty.
She looked back at him.
"So this is to be my room."
"Yes."
"And yours remains elsewhere."
Silence.
"Yes."
Vinaya's fingers curled into her skirt.
There would be no wedding night.
No attempt at companionship.
Not even the pretense of beginning a marriage.
Vikram had not merely removed her from Priya's chamber.
He had decided where she belonged.
Far from him.
And before leaving, Crown Prince Vikramaditya gave the final instruction to the household: