The king's courtesan wife

C H A P T E R 1 2

It was past lunch time, a few days after she had written the letter. When Sandhya headed to the other side of the palace. Her heart in her chest was beating wildly as she reconsidered her descision with each passing moment. But each time, she was about to give up, her mind told her that she've come too far to accept defeat now and it is not like she was doing some kind of sin.

Thankfully there were no guards or maids in this area.

She looked at the large wooden door and clutched her dupatta tightly. She licked her dry lips and pressed her fingernails into her palm to stop her hands from shaking.

Hesitantly, she brought her hand up and knocked on the door, three times. A moment later, the door opened with a creaking sound.

Rajat appeared in her sight and as soon as his gaze settled on Sandhya, he frowned.

"Rani sa, you here?" He asked in confusion.

"Forgive me, Rajat bhai sa to have disturbed you, knowing you have a lot of work, but can I talk to you for a moment?" Sandhya asked and Rajat hearing her seriousness, became stiff and alerted.

"Yes, please tell me." He asked, politely.

"Not here, can I come in?" She asked pushing away her anxiety.

"It's very important." She urged. Rajat gave in and stepped aside, letting the queen inside the room.

"Tell me, Rani sa. What's the matter that you had to come all the way here?" Rajat questioned after closing the door behind him.

"Yes, I-I mean, Akshara told me something earlier." She said fumbling with the hem of her dupatta nervously.

"About what?" The frown in Rajat's face deepened in confusion.

"Ab-About the letters she sends to her family." Sandhya continued.

"What about them?"

"She said that you deliver those letter yourself?" She questioned and a still confused Rajat nodded in answer.

"I was wondering if you could do it for me as well?" Sandhya asked, her voice quivering in fear of her request being rejected.

"You want to sent someone a letter?"

Sandhya nodded.

"Rani sa, it better not be to whom I am thinking of." Rajat voiced out and looking at the queen's expression, it only fueled his doubt.

"Rani sa, if badi raj mata gets to know that you even thought about it, she will turn your life a living hell." Rajat reasoned.

"I know, bhai sa!" Sandhya whisper shouted in frustration. "That is why, I had to come here hiding like a thief."

"I agree, my previous home had been a brothel and everyone I considered family is a prostitute. But that does not change that they are my family. I agree that it is not considered appropriate for a royal woman to get in touch with them but the fact that I come from that world cannot be changed either." Sandhya desperately explained to him.

"I get your point of view, Rani sa but if anyone gets informed about this then they will make a mountain out of a mole and try to ruin your reputation."

Sandhya laughed a humorless laughter. "My reputation has always been tainted, bhai sa. And even the title of queen cannot change that. But if you don't find it right, then let it be. It was a silly thought. I was too high on emotions and could not think straight."

"I apologise to have disturbed you again and have a good night." Sandhya looked down, tears burning her eyes threatening to fall.

She turned around and walked to the door but as she placed her hand on the door knob, Rajat's voice stopped her.

"Wait, Rani sa." Sandhya turned to face him.

"You are right. That is your family too and you have the right to miss them and talk to them." Rajat said with an expression as if he could not belive what he was saying.

"I'll make sure your letter reach there. I'll wait for you tomorrow night, at the entrance near the stables."

Sandhya could cry with happiness at that moment. For this favor, she would be forever grateful to Rajat.

"Thank you very much bhai sa." Her voice cracked at the end.

"I have considered you my sister, this is the least I can do for you." Sandhya smiled and thanked him once again before going to her room discreetly again.

However, she ran into Akshara who was going in the direction of Rajat's room.

"Rani sa, what are you doing here?" Sje questioned.

"I needed help with some work, so I came to see Rajat." Sandhya told her, unsure if whether to reveal her intentions to her.

"Oh." Akshara said and frowned. Sandhya did not miss how Akshara hold on the platter of food she was carrying tightened.

"I'll go and give him his food. He did not have lunch yet." Akshara said and hurried away from there.

Sandhya hoped that Akshara did not misunderstand her and went back to her room but little did she know the seed of doubt has already been planted in Akshara's mind long before.

~

The following night she got dressed in one of the maid's clothes and pulled the dupatta to cover her face.

She placed the box full of the letters she had written over the time she spent here in a linen bag and grabbed the filled waterskin before heading to the stables.

She was early and it was her anxiety that had to be blamed. She sat on a rectangular stack of hay and waited for Rajat.

After what felt like an eternity, Rajat finally made an appearance. Sandhya got on her feet as Rajat took his horse out of the stable.

"If you don't want to, you don't have to go." The words coming out of her mouth felt like betrayal to herself but she did not want to force him to go either.

"I have given you my word, and I intend to keep it."

Rajat extended his hand to take the bag from her. She gave him the bag which he put around his shoulder and gave him the water pouch.

"Have a safe journey." She wished for him and Rajat nodded with a smile before climbing his horse and departing.

An unknown feeling clutched Sandhya's heart and make her stomach drop. Shaking the bad thoughts out of her mind, she looked at the retreating figure of Rajat and prayed silently for his safe and successful trip.

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