{Do not copy this work or put it on other websites. Plagiarism is a heinous crime. Stealing someone's work isn't a gentleman's trait. Read, get inspired and write something of your own.}
Gauri, a young village girl holding firm views about morals a...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
"Relax, she didn't mean it."
Ambika ameliorates an upset Gauri after hearing about the latest incident. The old woman's head jumped from the gates of heaven to kiss the ambers of hell before returning to the living world.
The name Mandakini from the lips of the new bride was enough to raise hackles of her bleak personality. At the age of 58, her eyes have turned foggy, ears do not pick up sounds like before, tongue slurs sometimes, joints protest for relief, and spine quivers like a twig on cold nights, and sometimes it is difficult to recall the past. She was sure even the walls of the palace that withstood the glorious history of the Rana empire, has forgotten the name of a lonely mistress that once walked these corridors.
Mandakini was not of any importance to the residents, yet she held power over the monarchs, substantial enough to shake their fundamental beliefs.
She was a tragedy.
"But I do not understand. Mother said she is not real. Tell me, Ambika ji - is she just a story?"
Moisture blurred Ambika's unfocused eyes and she bit her lip, undecided if the past should be touched. The desperation in Gauri beckoned her to punctuate the details, but a possessive streak inside refused to share.
One day Gauri will know all secrets. Sadly it was not today.
"I wish I could tell you, Princess. I never saw a woman named Mandakini in my service of years. Moreover, I was appointed by King Rajyavardhan's secretary to assist Queen Vasundhara Devi after she got married to King Raghuveer. If anyone of that name existed, it was probably before I came to this fort."
Gauri sighs in defeat and continues stirring the veggies on low heat. Her mind paid less attention to the task at hand and ran wild to unearth the secrets and lies.
'What happened to Mandakini?'
The thought didn't let her poor mind rest. A nagging feeling gnawed at the back of her mind. Something terrible happened here, a long time ago, and has been erased so expertly leaving no traces of sin behind.
Mandakini loved Raghuveer to the point she didn't care about the world, but when she discovered the amount of damage her soul has withstood, she realized it was better to part ways. Maybe she left silently, or maybe she was silenced.
A shudder went down Gauri's spine and watching her visibly flinch, Ambika squeezed her shoulder in assurance.
"You must not fret upon such things, dearest. Focus on your reality. If I find anything about this interest of yours, I will let you know. For now, forget about it." Ambika whispered, watching the nosy maids trying to eavesdrop and then left. Gauri ground her jaw in frustration and began stirring the vegetables with new vigor. Sweat dripped from her hairline and she dabs it with the end of her saree.
Suddenly, two arms wrapped around her waist from behind and her back was pulled into a strong chest. His beard brushed against her neck and she gasped, accidentally burning her fingers by touching the hot vessel in the process.
