The Unventured Passions

Within the Castle Walls (2) 🔞

I felt a lot of different kinds of emotions while writing this chapter.
I hope you feel them too
And I would so want to know what you feel!!
eagerly awaiting your thoughts and comments on this update. ❤️

Press the STAR and vote, so that I atleast know how many of my family members have read this chapter.
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A real marriage is not a thing of externality - not of family, religion nor finance - yet a bond between two souls that has a reality only the two of them can see. For we cannot truly become aware of this sixth sense until our soul-partner arrives.
Raimoti and Satyakirth's marriage was written in their eyes the first day they met, not a thing of human-kind nor laws, yet existed as if the universe had brought together two souls that were already betrothed.
Satyakirth was neck deep in love with his motherland, vowed to lay his life for her, yet that morning, the little apparently insignificant act of tainting Raimoti's hairline with a pinch of vermillion somehow stirred something deep inside him, deepening his sense of commitment to the only woman who had ever stolen his heart. On the other hand, it was Raimoti, neck deep in love with Satyakirth, aware of the uncertainties of future, the dangers that awaited them, yet that morning, the touch of Satya's vermillion clad fingers on her hairline stirred something even deeper, a sense of duty, the duty that she belonged to the land who had welcomed her so lovingly as their Queen.
It was love and it was patriotism, and somewhere these two emotions were merging together, forming a much more formidable emotion, which they both were yet to name!

The cold morning air around the Giridhari temple was filled with the pious fragnance of the sandalwood incense. Raimoti and Satya bowed down to the gods for a final time, seeking their blessings, before very slowly the Mounis approached her, guiding her down the stairs, leading her inside the royal quarters.
They didn't speak, neither did their eyes meet, and Satyakirth saw how with absolute devotion, Raimoti offered her prayers to his Griha Devta before she climbed down the altar of the temple, leaving him clouded with a mind full of thoughts. Satya stood back, his eyes fixated on the receding trail of the queen, his queen, wondering the fate of this relationship, as he finally sighed softly at her disappearance around the stone walls.

"Raja Saheb, your horse is ready." A strong gruff voice broke Satya's trance, speaking up with utter politeness.
It was his ChhayaShangi, his Shadow Companion, and Satya turned around and smiled at him.

"I'll change in a bit." He remarked.

"The dispute to the south would require some intervention too." The man hushed, and Satyakirth nodded at once.

"We'll ride south after the work is done."
His face had suddenly turned serious, and looking straight at the man, Satya held his shoulders with both hands.

"Listen," he addressed him, and the man nodded.
"This is my last visit to this land, and I want you to get every paper, every legal document, every dispute in the land sorted." He breathed, "Although I know my Raipur is in your able hands, their Raja Saheb, but still, before my end comes, I want to ensure with absolute certainty that my death wouldn't impact my kingdom in anyway."

Satyakirth's voice had a firmness in it, and it made the man swallow back an ache in his heart. More than his king, Satya was the boy he had always looked up to... His philosopher, his guide, his best friend!

"Sure Raja Saheb." He bowed.
"Would RaniMaa stay back?" He asked, and it made Satya sigh again.

"It's upto her. But once I'm gone, I want you to ensure that she's back here, safe."
He squeezed the man's shoulder as he bowed down to him in assurance.