The Last Princess (18+)

4.0 Royal Situations

Shivaay traced the visible part of his wife's spine as she laid beside him, stretched out on her  stomach. Only he knew how much self control it took not to pounce on her just like he did in his dreams every freaking night. Everyday the thought sleeping in another chamber crossed his mind, so that the physical torture done on him by his wife, unintentionally, would stop. Yet every night he couldn't help, but come back to her. That woman was making him weak.

Shivaay moved close to his wife, so that his nose was touching her shoulder. She smelled so good. He sniffed her shoulder lovingly. Her face was facing him, God, she was so beautiful. The candles burning in one corner of the room casted a faint yellowish  glow on her face. He caressed her cheek, softly, a part of him fearing that he would wake her up. Anika stirred in her sleep, turning her body so that she laid on her back. A soft moan left her face as she shifted causing Shivaay's eyes to darken. His eyes went southwards, now focusing on the small amount of cleavage that was being shown to him by the shift of her blouse.

He wanted more, a lot more, more than what he was given. Scraps. He was given scraps of what was his. That thought, no that reality, hurt and angered him at the same time. Shivaay turned away from her, staring at her any longer would drive him crazy. He did not want to do something against her will, at least not yet.

The morning approached. Her husband was gone even before she woke up. The familiar cypress shaded her heart as melancholy bloomed. Anika let out an exaggerated sigh. She felt fatigue wash over her. She was tired, tired of being so hapless. Couldn't they, couldn't he see? That she was anything but happy? Could they? Or they did see, the unhappy wife of the king, but simply pitied her or did not care.

These thoughts made her angry. Angry at herself for hastily deciding to marry her husband, who did not seem to give a damn about her. Angry at him, for marrying her, for not giving any attention to her. Well what? She did not want his attention, but whom was she even kidding? Her conscious mocked her. You crave his attention, Anika. But was something wrong with it? He was only supposed to give his attention to her.

Anika shook her head, she was not going to waste her time thinking about him, he did not deserve it. Anika was all set to go for her practice and was setting her armour when she spotted a very familiar kirpan beside her own, which belonged to her husband. She held it in her hand, it was heavy, the cover was made of gold, with his royal seal embedded on it.

She lightly caressed the symbol, which was of two lions, it resembled the kingdom known for its lions and warriors. Anika's mind travelled back to the time of their marriage. The only time she could not think straight. Her mind was absolutely blank. Questions like: what was she doing? why? for whom? - were clouding her mind. She wished, if only she had been selfish that day. If only she was thinking about herself, that day and not her kingdom.

"Jitne pyaar se aapne hamare iss bhuj ko pakar ke rakkha hai, kabhi utni mohabbat humpe bhi jataiye,"(the amount of love you are showering on my dagger, could you not shower it on me at times) Anika jumped, flabbergasted causing the dagger to slip from her hands, but her husband was quick to catch it in time.

"Aap, yaha ?" (you, here?) Anika asked, trying not to sound shocked and fearing if he could hear her heart which was now beating like a drum.

"Nehi aa sakte?" (shouldn't I come here?)

"Aapko pata hai hamare kehne ka matlab woh nehi tha," (you do know I did not mean to say that)

"Toh kya tha, Raani sa? Hume bataiye zara," (then what did you mean, my queen? Pray tell)

"Maharaj, aap hamare pass yaha fizul ki baatein karne toh nehi aaye honge. Aapko aapki kirpan chahiye thi na?" (king, you did not come to speak nonsensical things, right? You must be needing your dagger) Anika asked, now irked by her husband's smug look. She did not turn to look at him, as she could clearly see him by his reflection, reflecting in the mirror.

"Hume hamesha se hi pata tha ki aap chalak hai, aj apane hume sahi sabit kar diya," (I had always known that you were smart, and today you proved me right) He took small, baby steps towards her

Anika now turned to face him, angered by his remarks. Of course she was clever, she was a warrior and a princess - now a queen.

"Aap naraz maat huiye, Raani sa. Hum toh aap ki tareef kar rahe the. Aapko bura laga? Hum maafi chahtein hai, maafi milegi hume?" (Please don't get angry, queen. I was just praising you. Did you feel bad about it? Then I apologise, will you forgive me) He Moved closer and closer her.

"Agar aap abhi, issi waqt, hume ye batayein ki aap yaha kyun aayen hai," (If only you tell me why you are here, right now)

"Kyun? Kya hum aapni Raani sa se milne nehi aa sakte," (Why? Can't I come to meet my queen) Shivaay moved even closer, now having her in his hands reach. He moved his palm towards her face, resting it on her right cheek.

"Aa zaroor sakte hai, par hum ab hamare kaam se ja raahe hain," (yes, you can surely com , but now I am going for some work) Anika tried hard to avoid the shivers that ran down her spine ad the butterflies which she didn't know from where came in her stomach.

"Chinta mat kijiye, hum aapse aapka zyada waqt nehi lenge," ( don't worry, I will not take much of your time) Shivaay removed his hand from her cheek, which was already missing the feel of her soft skin. 

"Hume Harikela jaana hai. Kuch bohot zaroori kaam se. Hum koi tareekh nehi de sakte ki hum kab lautenge," (I need to go to Harikela for some important work. I cannot say the exact date when I will be back) Shivaay finally told the main cause why he was here, his eyes suddenly lacking any emotion as he stared right into her eyes,

For a moment Anika felt breathless. He was going? For how long? Why? Should she ask him? No, she shouldn't. She should not care.

"Hum aapke saath aayenge-" (I will come with you-) She was cut in mid sentence by him,

"Nehi, Raani sa. Aap hamare saath nehi aayengi. Hum bhraman pe nehi ja rahein hai. Hum sainik le jayenge, yudh ki aashankha bhi hai," (No, queen. I am not going on a trip. I will be taking my warriors as there is a possibility of war)

Anika did not say anything. Why didn't he want her to go with him? Was she ashamed of her? Did he not want to introduce her to other kings? Did he not think of her as a worthy warrior?

"Aap hamara intezar karengi na?" (you will wait for me, right)