A Matter of Chance

Chapter 7- Pitfall

Aditha’s mind reacted to the sound of metal and the consequent cry.
He pushed the door open and his eyes wildly looked around hoping to help “Is everything alright? I heard something fall, then you screamed!! Are you hurt?”

Two pairs of widened eyes and agape lips stared at each other incredulously. 
Aditha was the first to calm down, seeing as Nandini wasn’t hurt.
Nandini didn’t know what was more shocking – the way he barged into her home or the fact that he’d spent several hours waiting outside
“Oh Krishna, he’s only become more stubborn with age “she thought.

She began rising even as every part of her body rebelled “Thank you for your concern, your highness but I’m quite capable of— Ohh!
The spilt water had trailed to the sides and Nandini, in her haste to drive away Aditha, had slipped.
Her muscles stiffened and one arm reached the bedside table….

But that’s not what prevented her fall.

Aditha’s quick reflexes proved themselves utile yet again, but this time they came with a flood wave of emotions.
Nandini’s fright made her instinctively wind herself around him.  Both were relieved at the lack of injuries.

Along with it came the realization- of being able to feel each other’s breathing on their face.

It rekindled some fond memories, that Nandini found extremely distracting in the present.

He placed her carefully on the mattress and began touching her ankle to see if anything was amiss. She wished to yell at him to stop, to cease this impropriety!

However, the treacherous part of her brain (seemingly louder these days) told her to enjoy the feeling for it has reappeared after so many years

“His family threw me out!?”

“Because they knew how much he loved you”

“His sister is a bully who mistreated me”
“Her brother listened to you more, dummy”

“The Empress exiled me”

“Because she knew Aditha’s intentions were honorable and he wished for you to be his consort”

Woah! This part of her brain seemed more desperate to be permanently lodged in Aditha’s embrace than to support its master.

Nandini felt a sense of euphoria everytime he held her...
As he helped her on and off his horse
When he held her as she exited the pond after a dip
When they snuggled in the woods

She relished every bit of it. Education and society taught her that such feelings were sinful in a girl and must be ignored

But how could she? It was the only balm to her soul.
It soothed her insecurities and aided her dreams.
Is it wrong for an orphan to wish for a love match?
Is it sinful for a devout girl like her to desire the love of a boy?
Is it truly so impossible for someone like her to attain riches, respect and power.

Why mustn’t she desire it? Surely if anyone deserves it, after being abandoned after birth and living a humble life in the Lord’s service- then it must be her, thought Nandini.

She was beautiful, intelligent …. and her ambition didn’t mean that her love of God is false.
She would sniff out the intentions of courtiers and chieftains to protect her beloved!
She would take no other side but his
Surely Krishna wouldn’t give her so beautiful a gift only to snatch it (without atleast a chance at redemption)?
Idle time lying on the bed made Nandini revisit her past ideas.

“Stupid girl, such grand dreams for a girl wanted by no one. To be queen! To become Aditha’s greatest strength!
Him and his family evidently have no use of you!” She grimaced.

Being bedridden came with a lot of free time- for Nandini it came with the opportunity to dwell on 2 things- past heartache and  aditha.
The scars, fine lines and sun burn from years at war somehow made
him more infuriatingly handsome.
Awful man!

She was usually out of breath with one chore or another. Her mind used this free time to burden her with memories and thoughts she’d rather avoid.

The man she loathes currently tending to her injuries didn’t make things easier either.

That battle hardened face was now regaining the sweet puppy look she found hard to resist, much to her annoyance.

Aditha was extremely caring for a prince. He laid down rags to soak the spillage, washed and refilled the jugs with clean water and found the herbal salve (with her guidance) for her legs and back.

He plopped down on a bolster and began fanning her when she finally began “Thank you for helping me. I feel much better now. I wouldn’t want to take up anymore of your time “
His eyebrows rose quizzically.

“Nandini, you have every reason to dislike my company. But don’t be petty, you can’t even move! And you can’t fool me, you already seemed unwell before you slipped”
“Living here alone can’t be easy, I will leave soon so allow me to make amends by helping you – for the sake of our friendship"
He hoped she wouldn’t notice his sneaky maneuver.

So annoying, she thought.

Aditha always had a way of guessing her emotions – even though she never expressed much as a child.

This was Nandini, the queen of sneakiness, she noticed every intention glisten in his eyes.
“Smarmy man, he thinks I won’t notice“. she almost rolled her eyes “He’s caused me enough trouble- I’ve lived a rough life because of him! I might as well put him to good use and save my breath” she thought.

She thought she was so much smarter than him. But it was the Aditha-desperate part of her brain that won this round.

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