4. Who are you?
1565 Words
Malvika's POV
When I felt that my body was having pain, I shuffled myself and found myself on the cold marble floor.
I slept on the floor resting my back and head on the closed door. Memories of last night flashed in front of my eyes. That scrambled my heart.
"It wasn't a nightmare."
I mumbled covering my mouth. Once again tears take their place in my eyes. Destiny had played a very dangerous game with me. My miserable past wasn't sufficiently, that destiny has planned my future with this beast prince.
I glanced outside the window, there was still dark outside but the sun maybe rises in a few minutes. The sky color was changing now.
I looked for my clothes and headed toward a bathroom. I found a door in the bedroom and luckily, it is a bathroom, a giant size room attached with a closet.
Getting ready in a few minutes, I opened the door slowly. The beast was not seen since last night. God knows where he is. What will I answer if someone will ask me about him?
"Kunvar Rani Sa..."
( Wife of the prince. Sa- Suffix to honor)
Someone called me and I stopped at the stairs. The feminine voice was coming from my back. Before I whirled to see the female who owns the rude and dangerous tone, she ordered, "You can not show your face to anyone until post-wedding rituals are not done. Don't your mother teach you?"
The sound was authentic and dark. I pulled the veil and hid my face rapidly. I stammered, "I'm sorry..."
"Princess Abha..." She said coming close to me. She added again, "I'm the eldest princess and your sister-in-law."
There is an attitude in her tone. I nodded and she led me, "Come with me."
I saw the king sitting on the head chair. I followed Abha Didi and reached nearby him. Touching his feet, I joined my hands for blessings. He broadly smiled and blessed, "Live a long, healthy, and happy life, my princess."
His tone was so kind and pampering. Princess Abha said, "Kunvar Rani Sa, meet them, she is a princess Prabha. My younger sister."
"And he is..."
She is gonna introduce me to everyone in the palace. I'm gone, how will I remember everyone? I was stuck in my wonderland
When a roaring sound echoed the hall.
"Dad..."
"My prince, good morning," The King wished him while getting up from his chair.
"Good morning," He answered. He stepped down and I shivered. His facial gesture is complicated. Though he is a handsome and charming prince.
He didn't share a glance at me. It was a little bit easier for me. I gulped as he passed by me. Night's memories flashed in front of my eyes. I was so lost when I heard the prince.
"Dad, I'm leaving for Mumbai, now," He said giving a fright to everyone. I took an overview of everyone, and all became surprised.
"Prithvi, what kind of joke this is?" The king shouted at him.
"Dad, Please," He irritated and began, "I married as you said. Now, let me live my life in my way. I'm leaving now. Jet is already ready to take off. See you soon, Dad."
He touched his father's feet and left everyone stunned. The king was fuming in anger.
My heart skipped a beat. He is leaving and what about me. I can neither stay here nor go with him. Everywhere, a problem is waiting for me.
"Prithvi," The king roared and the prince stopped without looking back at the prince.
"What about Malvika? Aren't you taking her with you?" The king shouted and my heart ached. How will I live with this beast alone? I gulped the saliva that formed inside my mouth. I could hear my own heartbeats.
"Of course, " He muttered under his breath. It was clear to everyone that he is not willing to take me with him. I sighed in relief.
"Bhairav..." The King roared as an old man came forward.
"Kunvar Sa..." (Prince)... Bhairav said while bowing his head in honor of the prince.
"You have to stay with Kunvar Rani Sa (Princess) under one shelter. If you will live separately, you will not be qualified for the throne." Bhairav acknowledged him. The King was very angry at his son. And I'm gonna be a sandwich between them.
I was praying to Lord Shiva to save me. If I will ho with him, he will surely rape me or angrily, he should kill me.
"Come..." He shouted at me and I was startled at my place.
The King came close to me and placed his palm on my head. He said with so much love and care, "Malvika, I have a rude son. He is gonna be King. I know you will take care of him and take care of yourself too. Go with him and if you need anything, you can call me anytime. Otherwise, Pranav will be there. You can say him."
"Now, Go and you don't need to hide your face under the veil. It was an old custom. Live freely and do whatever you want to do," He laughed slightly and added, "Remove the veil, my child."
I smiled as I was feeling suffocated under the veil. Hearing it was quite relaxing to me. I touched the king's feet for blessings. His words soothed my heart. He blessed me again and I lifted my veil.
I smiled at the King, but he stepped back with a shock. His eyes broadened and his heart started racing. I can hear the drumming sound of his heart. Prabha Didi was holding a tray, which suddenly fell from her hand and kissed the floor making a loud noise.
Abha Didi was stunned and her mouth parted in a gap. I gulped thinking about what was wrong with my face. All of them are shocked. Even Bhairav Ji was also shocked and gawking at me like I'm a horrible ghost.
I glanced at Prithvi, he did not even whirl back and pressed his head hard.
"Who are you?" Abha Didi shouted at me.
"Ma... Malvi... Ka..." I stammered. My body was trembling with fear. What have I done that all of them are gawking at me?
"You..." She shouted and rushed to me but Amarjit, her husband held her hand and stopped her. The King gulped hard and firmly said, "Go my child. We are always with you. See you soon."
I smiled and nodded while moving behind Prince. God knows what about my luggage. I just trailed behind him as a lamb trailed behind the mother sheep. The difference is that the Poor calf is following the lion and inviting him to it her. And the calf is I.
I glanced back before exiting the main door. All of them are staring at me like I'm an alien. What's wrong with my face? Or maybe with my saree?
I came out and observed myself in the window of the black sedan car. There was nothing wrong. Then why are all of them staring at me?
"Kunvar Rani Sa... Please, sit..." A guard was requesting me to get in the car. I nodded and glanced at the palace with a sigh. The Royal palace is really beautiful and big is a small word for it. It's a giant castle.
As I got in the car, the driver drove. I'm feeling like I'm watching a dream. In just two days, my life has taken a twist. I glanced at the prince, his fingers are playing on a laptop keyboard. He seems dangerous or I can say, he is tense for some reason. He did not glance at me for a while.
Silently, we reached the airport and then his private jet. In a few hours, we landed in Mumbai. Nobody was there to talk with me. I was only following him.
Once again a car came to receive us and we entered the big luxurious bungalow. My mouth gaped as it was too big and beautiful.
As we got in, he got into his room, leaving me alone in the living room. Suddenly, A man came and bowed, "Kunvar Rani Sa, I'm Pranav, Prince's assistant. If you need anything, you can call me. Here is a maid, hired for you by Hukum sa (King)."
I smiled at him and a girl came from the entrance. She smiled broadly and said, "Hello, Rani Sa..."
"Hello..." I said.
"You might be tired, take a rest, we will talk later," She said leading me to my room. I felt relaxed as I found someone who can be my friend. Otherwise, I've fallen into the world of aliens.
****
It has been a week, and neither I have seen him nor talked to him. Now, what to do? How can I pass a year like this week?
I called Pranav. As he received a call, I asked directly, "May I go out and do something that I like?"
"Kunvar Rani sa, I will ask sir and then will inform you," He answered politely. Now I need his permission to go out. Is this my life?
And my life is hung up with the question, of why everyone in the palace was asking me - who are you?
Are they not expecting me there or something else?
- Writer
