Inseparable Souls

Chapter 4

**Chapter 4**

Abhimanyu was in his study room discussing the solar project with government officials when Abhivayakt abruptly entered without knocking.

"I need to talk to you!" Abhivayakt exclaimed.

Noticing the seriousness etched on his brother's face, Abhimanyu dismissed the officers, asking, "Is something important?"

"Last night, Daai maa punished Shree. She left her outside in the cold! That poor girl had to endure the entire night in freezing temperatures. How could she do something so inhumane?" Abhivayakt complained.

"And what of it? Daai Maa acted appropriately! Shree needed to understand our way of life and shed her childish stubbornness. I hope this teaches her not to defy me again," Abhimanyu replied calmly.

"How can you say that? You are her husband, the one person she should be able to count on, and you let her down like this!" Abhivayakt retorted, his expression filled with disdain.

"This is my business! Stay out of it," Abhimanyu snapped.

"Brother, she’s just a teenager. She needs time to adjust to our way of life. We should be treating her with kindness," Abhivayakt argued.

"Did you not hear what I just said?" Abhimanyu shouted.

Abhivayakt fell silent and turned to leave, but before exiting, he looked back and asked, "If it were Nandini in Shree’s place, would you react the same way?"

Abhimanyu paused for a moment before responding, "There’s no comparison between Nandini and Shree. My daughter is a princess."

Abhivayakt scoffed, saying, "Today I learned that while this palace may be grand and beautiful, its walls are hollow, and it will soon crumble."

............

"Did you prepare the dishes?" Daai maa asked Shree.

Shree nodded silently. "Remember, all the women in this palace eat only after the men have finished," Daai Maa instructed.

"But..." Shree hesitated, wanting to express that she hadn’t eaten a single bite since yesterday and could no longer bear the hunger.

Daai Maa noticed her discomfort but chose to remain silent.

Shree rubbed her growling stomach and pleaded, "Can I eat with everyone? I’m starving."

"You won’t die from hunger. Wait for the women’s turn," Daai Maa ordered.

Shree nodded in compliance, refraining from opposing her.

..........................................

"Daai maa, the aroma of the food is incredible! What special dish did you make?" Abhivayakt exclaimed, eager to sneak a peek at the spread. At that moment, Kalindi swatted his hand away. "Let Abhimanyu savor the dishes; after all, his wife cooked them for him."

Although he wore a cheerful façade, a twinge of sadness and jealousy struck Abhivayakt toward his brother, though he couldn't fully grasp the reason.

Just then, Abhimanyu entered and took his place at the table. Daai maa instructed Shree to serve him.

Shree hesitated, still unsettled by the events of the previous night involving Abhimanyu. As her reluctance grew frustrating, he slammed a glass to the floor, startling Shree and prompting her to start reciting Krishna's name in fear.

"Did you not hear me? Serve the food to Abhimanyu!" Kalindi called out sharply.

Cornered, Shree found the courage to approach and, with shaky hands, began to serve the meal to Abhimanyu.

"What about the rest of us?" Kalindi inquired.

"Never mind, Daai maa! We can manage. Shree, please join us," Abhivayakt urged.

"No! I can't," Shree replied firmly.

"Why not?" Abhivayakt pressed.

"Because I instructed her not to," Kalindi interjected.

"May I ask why?" Abhivayakt questioned.

"Because the women here eat only after their husbands have finished," Kalindi answered tersely.

"And what about Madhurima and Nandini? Why are they at the table with us?" Abhivayakt challenged.

"Nandini is of royal blood, and Madhurima holds our status," Abhimanyu stated plainly.

"Oh! So the truth is, Shree isn't worthy to sit with you," Abhivayakt shot back sarcastically.

"Abhi! You're causing unnecessary conflict," Madhurima said, wincing at Abhivayakt's sudden shift in tone.

"Madhurima's right! When did women become a source of dispute?" Abhimanyu asked.

"Bro, it's not about women; it's about your perspective," Abhivayakt teased.

"This is our tradition. Don't forget that your mother was my father's second wife," Abhimanyu retorted.

"You enjoy respect because the blood of the late King Rudrapratap runs in you; apart from that, you inherited nothing of value from your impoverished mother," Kalindi added, intensifying the tension.

"I'm sorry," Abhivayakt murmured, though the pain in his eyes went unnoticed by everyone except Shree.

Ignoring Abhivayakt, Abhimanyu took a bite of food but suddenly began to cough violently. Kalindi swiftly poured a glass of water and handed it to him.

"Are you alright?" she asked, gently rubbing his back.

Abhimanyu pushed his plate away and shot a glare at Shree, causing her to panic as she sensed that things were about to get worse for her.

Meanwhile, Abhivayakt savored the food, unable to contain his moans of delight. Since the passing of his maternal aunt, he hadn't tasted anything so delicious. He was used to bland meals because others in the palace preferred milder flavors, and in Italy, chefs were not well-versed in Indian cuisine.

Kalindi took a bite and spat it onto the floor. "How could you add so much spice when I clearly said that no one in the palace enjoys spicy food? You careless girl! I had such high expectations for someone in your position."

"But you didn't tell me!" Shree protested, her voice trembling as tears began to form.

"Now you're lying! Look, Abhimanyu, she's accusing me of not informing her on purpose," Kalindi said, feigning tears.

Abhimanyu stood up, his fury directed at Shree. "I can't stand liars!"

"I'm sorry!" Shree cried, her composure breaking.

"Your apology won't restore his ruined appetite," Kalindi sneered.

"Just give me a moment to whip up something he likes. In the meantime, you can have this sweet dish," Shree said, pouring pudding into a bowl and handing it to Abhimanyu.

Kalindi gasped in disbelief, while Abhimanyu's nostrils flared with anger.

"What’s wrong?" Shree asked anxiously.

"You did this on purpose," Abhimanyu accused, his voice dripping with disdain.

"What?!" Shree replied confusion etched on her face.

"Stop pretending! You liar!" Abhimanyu shoved Shree's hand holding the bowl of pudding, causing it to spill onto her skin.

"Ahhh! It’s burning!" Shree hissed in pain as the hot pudding splattered onto her hand.

"Brother! She got burned!" Abhivayakt exclaimed, trying to help, but Abhimanyu shot him an angry look, making him step back, guilt washing over his face.

"This is all my fault. I thought I could trust her to follow my guidance without needing constant supervision! You did this on purpose, didn’t you?" Kalindi gripped Shree's burned hand tightly, causing her bangles to shatter and a shard of glass to cut into her wrist.

"Ahhh! Let go, it hurts!" Shree winced as blood began to ooze from the cut.

"Daai maa, please be gentle," Abhivayakt pleaded.

"Stay out of this!" Daai maa snapped, squeezing Shree’s wrist even harder, deepening the cut.

"I swear I didn’t do it on purpose! I promise to Lord Krishna!" Shree cried desperately.

"Enough with your lies! You’re taking revenge on Abhimanyu for last night, aren’t you? First, you made spicy food, which isn’t good for his health, and then you made a pudding with milk when I explicitly said he’s allergic!" Daai maa shouted at Shree.

"You didn’t tell me about that! Rajasaheb, I’m telling the truth!" Shree begged.

"Daai maa, maybe she’s right. Perhaps you forgot to inform her," Abhivayakt suggested cautiously.

"Oh, so now you’re saying I’m careless? Abhimanyu, I’m sorry. Maybe they’re right; I am getting old, and it’s possible I forgot. Forgive me! No, punish me for my carelessness. Your new queen is right; she can’t make mistakes. After all, there’s no comparison between an old servant and the queen," Kalindi said, shedding fake tears to play the victim.

"I didn’t mean it, Daai maa," Abhivayakt tried to clarify.

"Abhimanyu! I think it’s time for me to leave this palace," Kalindi cried dramatically.

"No! You can’t, Daai maa!" Abhivayakt begged desperation in his voice.

"Enough! Abhivayakt, you’re overstepping. And Daai maa, you don’t need to explain anything to me. I trust you to never be careless, especially regarding my matters. Just because I married Shree doesn’t mean she’s the queen. She’s just another worker in this palace. You have every right to teach her a lesson for lying," Abhimanyu said calmly, turning to head to his study.

As Abhimanyu left, Kalindi smirked and muttered, "Dream on about being the queen of this palace."

"She’s such a wicked woman! My father had to leave his breakfast because of her. I hope she rots in hell!" Nandini cursed as she stormed off to her room.

Abhivayakt was about to comfort Shree when Madhurima grabbed his arm and warned, "Stay out of it or be prepared for the consequences."

Sighing, Abhivayakt abandoned the idea of consoling Shree and followed Madhurima instead.

"Stop crying like a child and start cooking for everyone!" Kalindi ordered harshly.

Shree wiped her tears and made her way to the kitchen.

"The keys to this palace will be mine!" Kalindi declared proudly.

She began preparing the meal as instructed by Kalindi. The poor girl had to do everything on her own, as Kalindi had ordered the other cooks not to assist her. Her hands ached terribly, but she continued cooking, fearing Kalindi's wrath.

Once the meal was ready, she notified Kalindi. Kalindi tasted each dish before taking the tray to the study room, where Abhivayakt was engrossed in his journal.

"Abhimanyu! You skipped breakfast, so I made something for you," Kalindi fibbed.

"Thank you, Daai Maa!" Abhimanyu replied gratefully.

"Abhimanyu, there's something I've been wanting to discuss for a while," Kalindi began.

"Feel free to speak," Abhimanyu encouraged.

"Young girls are like canary birds; they appear beautiful, but their true nature is often hidden," Kalindi remarked, releasing a canary from its cage, and allowing it to soar into the sky.

"I understand, but wouldn’t it be better to clip her wings?" Abhimanyu suggested calmly.

"You remind me of your mother—calm yet as fierce as the sea," Kalindi complimented him.

"It's all thanks to your teachings," Abhimanyu replied.

"Don't you think Abhivayakt is too concerned about Shree? Keep an eye on him; he might try to take her from you," Kalindi attempted to sow seeds of jealousy between the brothers.

"You’re overthinking it, Daai Maa. Abhivayakt wouldn’t even dream of that. He’s my brother, and he respects me," Abhimanyu assured her.

"Your stepbrother respects you because of your wealth. Don’t forget, his mother once tried to take your father and her claim to the throne. Thankfully, your mother’s cleverness thwarted her. I can see a day when Abhivayakt may turn against you," Kalindi warned.

"That’s impossible! I’ve ensured he won’t receive a single cent of the wealth. He’s so blinded by my brotherly affection that he doesn’t realize I’ve manipulated him with my feigned love. That fool is loyal to me like a servant," Abhimanyu scoffed.

"Still, you need to be cautious. He has desired what you possess since childhood, and you know what desire can lead to," Kalindi cautioned.

"I will be careful," Abhimanyu promised.

.....................

"Everyone has had breakfast; now I can eat," Shree said cheerfully as she filled her plate.

Just as she was about to take a bite, a hand stopped her. "How dare you eat without my permission!" Kalindi scolded angrily.

"Everyone else has eaten; I thought it was my turn," Shree replied.

"Don’t be so smart! You will eat only after asking my permission," Kalindi snapped.

"I'm sorry! May I please have my meal?" Shree asked politely.

Kalindi took the plate and poured red chili into her food. "You love spicy food, right? Then enjoy," she said, shoving the plate toward Shree as if she were a dog.

"You shouldn’t disrespect food like that; we’re fortunate to have a meal," Shree smiled.

"Listen here, girl! Don’t dare lecture me on morals," Kalindi shouted.

Shree smiled and began eating, the red chili burning her mouth, but she forced herself to swallow, knowing she didn’t know when she would eat again.

After finishing her meal, she drank from a jug in one go, but the burning sensation persisted.

"Aaaaahhhh! It’s burning!" Shree exclaimed, pulling at her hair and running around in distress.

"Here, this will help," Abhimanyu said, offering her chocolate.

In her desperation, she accepted it and ate, finding relief after a few moments. "Do you want more?" Abhivayakt asked.

Shree nodded shyly, and Abhivayakt chuckled at her cuteness. "You look like a doll!" he exclaimed, handing her a few more chocolates.

Shree quickly snatched them and hid them behind her back. "Don't worry, they’re all yours. If you finish them, you can ask me for more," Abhivayakt reassured her, patting her head.

"Thank you, you’re so kind," Shree said softly.

"And you are pure and beautiful," Abhivayakt replied sincerely.

"How’s your hand?" he asked with concern. Shree hid her hand behind her back and lied, "It’s fine. Nothing serious."

Abhivayakt gently pulled her hand forward and gasped. "You silly girl! You need to see a doctor; the burn is severe, and the cuts are making it worse."

"It’s fine! I’ll just apply some medicine," Shree stammered, trying to withdraw her hand.

"Come with me; I don’t want to hear any excuses," Abhivayakt insisted, guiding Shree to a chair before heading to his room for the first aid kit.

A few minutes later, Abhivayakt returned and knelt beside her. "What are you doing? Stand up! What if someone sees?" Shree protested.

"Stop overthinking! Let me treat your hand," Abhivayakt said gently, taking her hand in his.

"Aaaahhhh! That hurts! Be gentle!" Shree hissed in pain as Abhivayakt began cleaning her wound.

"It will sting a little; I'll be more careful," Abhivayakt said, blowing gently on her hand to soothe the burning sensation from the ointment.

Shree gripped Abhivayakt's other hand tightly and closed her eyes. He could feel her nails digging into his skin but chose to ignore it as he continued applying the ointment to her hand.

"It's all done!" Abhivayakt said softly, but Shree remained in the same position.

For the first time, Abhivayakt noticed her features so closely, and he wished he could freeze this moment in time. Having Shree so near drove him wild.

He chuckled as he watched her lips tremble, softly murmuring the name of Lord Krishna, her eyes shut and her lips taking on a delicate red hue. She appeared like a porcelain doll—innocent, pure, and stunningly beautiful.

As he admired her beauty, his gaze inadvertently landed on her nuptial chain, a stark reminder that she belonged to someone else and always would.

"It's done! Open your eyes," Abhivayakt said firmly this time, pulling his hand away from Shree's tight grip.

Shree opened her eyes and gasped at the sight of his red hand. "I’m so sorry!" she exclaimed.

"It's fine! It doesn't hurt," Abhivayakt replied, turning to leave.

"Thank you! Madhurima ji is so lucky to be marrying you," Shree said with a smile.

"What about me? Will I ever find my love?" Abhivayakt asked a hint of desperation in his voice.

"Of course! If your love is true, Lord Krishna will guide you," Shree reassured him.

"It's too late for that," Abhivayakt said with a dismissive expression.

"Have faith in your love! It's the greatest power in the world," Shree encouraged.

"That's ridiculous," he said, turning to walk away.

"I’ll pray that you find the person you love most," Shree said optimistically.

From a distance, someone was watching Shree and Abhivayakt. "We need to confine her before she goes too far! She’s young, and so is Abhimanyu. Act quickly before it’s too late," Kalindi warned Abhimanyu, who glared at them with a fiery intensity as if he wanted to incinerate them on the spot.

Fuming, Abhimanyu stormed back to his room, while Kalindi smirked.

............

Shree was busy with household chores when Madhurima arrived. "Do you need anything?" Shree asked.

"Nothing, but I could use your help," Madhurima replied.

"What do you need?" Shree asked politely.

"Can you teach me how to make pudding? Abhivayakt loves it!" Madhurima said.

"I can cook for him anytime you want; there's no need for you to worry," Shree offered.

"He’s my fiancé! You don’t need to cook for him; focus on your own husband’s preferences," Madhurima said sharply.

Shree bit her lip to hold back tears. "Alright, I’ll help you," she said, beginning to assist Madhurima.

"Don’t add too much sugar!" Shree cautioned, knowing that he had a sweet tooth. But Madhurima ignored her and poured in the sugar.

"You can go now; I don’t need your help anymore," Madhurima declared.

As Shree turned to leave, she was about to enter her room when she heard the moans of a woman and the sounds of a man. Peeking inside, what she saw shook her to her very core.