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Gauri, a young village girl holding firm views about morals a...
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Groaning, she turned to her side and snuggled into the pillow nearby before stretching like a cat. A pleasant smile descended on her lips and she slowly opened her hazel eyes. Her forehead constricted in a frown noting the familiar surroundings of her room in the Chitrakoot Palace. Jerking up with a jolt, she runs her fingers through the length of her tangled hair and glares at the wall clock in disbelief. It was past noon. Sunrays were blocked by heavy curtains, making the room look shady and cool.
Climbing out of the covers, a confused Gauri enters her bathroom. Her stomach roared in hunger.
Why no one came to wake her?
A wave of disappointment crashed her thinking last night was probably a dream. She was imagining it all. Slapping the back of her head, she gritted her teeth. Chiding herself for wishful thinking. Splashing cold water on her face when she looked up and took a moment to venerate her features, her lips started tingling. They were swollen red as if were pulled and sucked all night. A shocked gasp escaped her and she leans against the counter. Her palms plaster against the wildly beating jewel in her chest and she found herself sitting on the edge of the tub, breathless.
A small chuckle erupted in the bathroom followed by a giddy shriek. The excitement couldn't be contained. It wasn't a dream after all. Things did happen between them. He had told her he wanted to give this relationship a chance, wanted to be with her and she confessed her love for him.
Cupping her blushing cheeks, Gauri sighs before skipping to the wardrobe and selecting a fresh outfit for the day.
After some 30 minutes when she was done, decided to look for her mother-in-law in the dining hall. It was lunchtime and everybody must have gathered to serve the King and the Queen Mother.
Although, the moment Gauri enters the hall, her excitement simmers. The tension sat heavily on the shoulders of both mother and son as they look down at their plates with disinterest. Hearing the peal of her anklets, Vasundhara looks up and passes a smile that didn't reach her eyes.
"I hope you slept well, sweetheart. Yagya told us that you went to bed late last night. Come, have lunch with us."
Gauri gulped and timidly made her way to the chair at Vasundhara's left, in front of her silent husband. A bitter taste flooded her mouth when he didn't acknowledge her. Her eyes protested to freeze the collecting moisture and she breathed deep to control the tsunami booming inside.
She feared he will completely ignore her after last night. Was he ashamed? Or did he decide he didn't want her?
"What's wrong?" Gauri finally mumbled, trying to penetrate the thick fog of gloom now bombarding her happy bubble.
Vasundhara shuddered breathlessly before a tear slipped from her left eye.
"It's Raghuveer. He... the doctors called early in the morning to explain the situation. The heart attack has affected his nervous system and the parietal lobe of the brain. Not only has he slipped into a coma, but his body is also slowly shutting down. His pancreas has grown in size and his liver failed last night. He isn't responding to any of the treatments. I am afraid that we are going to lose him."
