𝑰𝒍𝒍 𝑭𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒅 (previously Vaidehi) ✎

[6]

This chapter is dedicated to ghvhkh ♥️

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"Suman! Ouch!" I whine as Suman pulls my hair while braiding it into some intricate hairstyle that Radhika directed her to do. The length of my hair is a little shorter than Radhika's but she insisted we do the same hairstyle.

"Uff Choti Rajkumari, I am trying to be as gentle as possible but it will obviously hurt a little bit. Your hair is very tangled."

I grunt noncommittally and sit straighter on the sofa bench. My maroon lehenga skirt stretches up with the motion revealing my feet and the ghunghroo tied to my ankles. I touch the ghungroo absently and a wave of nostalgia overcomes my head. I miss my dance classes so much...my village. Aditi. I wonder what she must be doing right now.

"Rajkumari ji!" Suman snaps at me bringing me back from wherever I was lost.

"Sorry yeah."

"Where were you lost?" She shakes her head, "Anyway look, you're all done up."

I take a look at my reflection and nod in satisfaction. I do look quite pretty. "All thanks to you." I tell her as I rise up and do a twirl for her. She claps her hands excitedly.

Just then Radhika barges into the room, "Vaidehi!" She yells, and taking he one look at me, her frown turns into a huge smile. "Awww you look gorgeous!" She compliments.

"See you should wear the royal designed clothes more often like I tell you." She does the Nazar na Lage gesture in front of me. I don't argue and instead just smile back at her.
It's true I don't like to wear the clothes that come from the royal tailor's that I should ideally be wearing. I prefer to stick to the clothes I brought from the village with me. The reason is simple, I don't want to loose the only thing left that still connects me to my roots.

"Okay anyways let's go. It almost time for our performance." She takes my arm and leads me down the stairs. We reach the backstage of the assembly in the royal garden in record time. The surroundins are decorated so grandly, it's mesmerizing and all the guests are currently seated enjoying jaljeera and a bhavai performance.

"We are up next." Radhika announces to me and our other five background dancers which includes my handmaiden, Suman as well. I steal a glance at Raghavendra who is seated between his mother, the queen of Mewar, Meerabai and Angad. He is speaking to Angad quitely, not paying much attention to the programs. Hmmm disrespectful.

"Vaidehi! Come!" Radhika snaps at me drawing my attention. I realise it's time for our performance and follow her to the centre. The rest of the dancers follow behind me, our ghungroos tinkering in sync.
We take our positions and when the musicians start their instruments, begin the dance. I look at my father and my prospective father in law who sitting beside each other, clapping and vibing with our performance but somehow my eyes betray me and end up landing on the Yuvraj of Mewar. With a start I realise he is looking back at me too. His face lifted with a smirk. He tips his head in a mock bow towards me, I flush in response. Luckily that's when the step in which we have twirl around comes in and I am temporarily saved from having any kind of eye contact with him.
For the rest of the dance his eyes stay focused on me, same smirk playing on his lips and I in return pathetically put on a show.

As much I hate to admit it. I danced a little more sensually than I usually do, swayed my hips a little more, let my eyes linger on him longer. I danced for him and I hate that.