Under the King's GAZE || MaNan

20

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Next morning, in the breakfast hall, he entered and bowed down to his mother and gazed at his sister. Nandini, who was serving nimbu pickle to his mother, looked at him with deep kohl filled eyes. Shifting towards him, she bent to touch his feet to which he held her neck to stop her from bending.

"MANIKKK"

Scream from rajmata evoked and he left her neck.

"Agar aap nahi chahte ki ve aapke paer chhu'en toh bol dijiye— ye sparsh (touch) hume kamre se bahar na hota dikhe aage se"

"Ji—"

She silently made his plate while he pushed her hand roughly. Eating his breakfast he left for sabha, asking rajmata to be there as proceedings of sallaan had to be done today. It gave a sense of fear of rejection in Nandini's heart as she became insecure about rajmata and princess's opinion about her.

Bringing her out of the gloomy, the princess asked her to come with her to her chamber. As they moved forward, attendant asked nandini to be present in the king's chamber.

"Didi– aap chaliye, hum bas abhi aate hain" requested nandini.

"Nandini jaldii aana—phir sabha ka samay ho jayega"

Nodding at her, she left to king's chamber with hell lot of nervousness and fear due to the consequences of last night's actions.

"Pranam Huzoor"

He glared at her and continued wearing his crown, completely ignoring her presence. She slowly slid in the frame of the mirror, taking his attention and began helping him adjust it properly. After putting all the jewels and necessary things, she gave him his shawl and he began to leave for sabha.

"Sabha me zyada rone ki zaroorat nahi hai—-janta hoon aaj tere ateet ki baaten dohrai jayengi par ab tujhe unse farq nahi padna chahiye—--Ab chehre pe hasi rehni chahiye—-rulata toh nahi na main tujhe????"

"Na na hukkum—-balki yaad bhi nahi aakhri baar kab royi thi—-" nodding her head in a no, she replied.

"Acchaa aisi baat hai—-aaj hi raat hojaye phir??"

Opening her mouth in a shock she gulped at his serious tone. But she was late in realizing that he has still not reacted anything regarding her yesterday's stunt and this silence was giving her chills. Moreover, wasnt he angry? Or is he angry? She was confused now.

"Voh—maharaj—kal ratri ke liye—-" she played with her duppatta and spoke.

"Arre nahi nahi Nandini ji—-ab iss batameez ko dhakka khane ki aadat padd gayi hai—--aap kyun maafi maangti hain—"

She immediately ran towards him and held his biceps. "Kya kehrahe hain—--voh unn dino ki baat hai—-tab hume nahi pata tha aap kon hain—-baar baar kyun chidate hain"

"Hatt daer horahi hai sabha ke liye"

He tried removing her cluch from his poshak coat but she didnt, rather she tightened the grip.

"Nahiii—-"

"Kya chahiye tujhe??? Abhi yaad aara hai maafi maangna?? Kahan thi raat bhar? Subha se kaha thi??? Mazak ki koi seema hai ki nahi—--Chhod mujhe—--abse apne kaksh me sona"

Sensing his changing demour she knew she messed up big time. Now she had to melt him with everything possible because sorry wasnt working well on the king now. Immediately changing her face into a puppy face with wobbling lips she hugged him tight. He was making attempts to detach himself from her but she didnt leave.