Chrysalis

13

He neared the decorated bed to find his newly wedded wife lost in her own thoughts. He trailed to her eyes. She was gazing at the oblivion, her brows were deeply furrowed, and her fingers ran over the beads on her dupatta.

He cleared his throat to catch her attention. Her features softened upon seeing him. The piercing silver rays of the moon enhanced his handsome visage. The ebony strands of his graciously escaped from his crown. The hem of his kurta hung low, his orbs pronounced a thousand streaks of brown.

Abhimanyu gulped thickly. "So..." He rubbed the back of his neck. "Are you tired? Do you want to sleep?"

"Umm..not so." She replied with a small smile.

"I need to ask you something." He chirped.

"What is it?"

He held his hand out for her. "I want to take you somewhere."

"Are you sure? We aren't supposed to move out of this chamber until the morning rays hit on the earth." The gleam in her eyes grew brighter.

"As if you care what others say?" He cocked his brow as Tara forwarded her wrist in his palm. His orotund speech heightened the excitement in her.

"Then, let's go." She looked up at his hooded lids, and his teasing lips.

The King and the Queen glided down the stairs in their clandestine mission. Reaching the stable, Abhimanyu clutched the rein of his steed, and assisted Tara to mount on his horse.

When the gleeful maids tried to eavesdrop in their deserted chamber, off they went for a journey of their own.

"I should've asked you earlier but where are we going?" Tara enquired. The black horse galloped in the shallow white mist crossing the black meadows.  

"You'll see." He replied not meeting her stare.

Soon, they reached a rolling upland. Abhimanyu gestured her to climb down before he tied the reins to a nearby date-palm.

"This is a hill. What is there to see?" She moeued in repugnance.

"Come with me." He took her hand in his as he took big steps towards the cliff.

He paused for a while, the moon hid herself pretty well amongst the blanket of clouds. A faint chirping of grasshoppers hit their eardrums. Tara looked up.

The black meadow glittered with thousands of silver moths. It seemed as if they were welcoming the new Queen with rows of earthen lamps sparkling timidly.

Abhimanyu had seldom visited this place after his father met the heavens. Her presence soothed him in and out. He stood awestruck at her face shining with joy. They might have a thousand responsibilities as the ruling heirs but he wanted this to be just his, not his crowns'.

She giggled in her own as her slender fingers danced in appreciation of the gleaming fireflies. The moon kept peeping in and vanishing between the white silkenth clouds. He watched his wife; his ladylove with her hairs squirmishing past her face.

"How's it?" He asked, grinning ear to ear.

"I am spellbound. If heavens would've been on Earth, it would look less heavenly than this." Tara remarked with a smile of satisfaction lacing her lips.

They sat under a tree admiring the mesmerising ambience.

"This is beyond my dreams." She complimented in a soft whisper.

"But it was my dream. To bring you here the very day we met." He snaked his arm along her waist and she snuggled in his embrace.

"I am not returning before dawn." Her whines were muffled by his conjoined arms. A soft chuckle fell from his lips and he kissed her forehead in mild passion.

"What if you get cold?" He stroke her loose hairs gently.

"I have this shawl with me and for you, your coat will suffice." She rose up breaking their embrace.

"Tell me, how did you decide you'd bring me here the day we met. You didn't know me, then. That means, you...." The thread of her speech was interrupted by the sudden interference of his lips. He drew back himself.

"Sorry, I should've asked you."

"Yes. Of course." She replied with a playful grin and reciprocated his loving gesture while leaving him astonished.

Tara knew well that her restraints were acting against her. She tried her best not to lose herself in him but in vain. With a great misfortune, human hearts are more flawed than broken glasses.