I remember your voice

part 25

"You are absolutely the ideal fusion of enchantment and craziness, and that is what makes you so stunning"

Vikram’s pov

I couldn't keep my brain straight all night and woke up late, for the same reason I missed combat training. It's not anything I regret because I don't enjoy it anyway, but I don't hate it like I detest arrow training.

I had just finished getting ready, eating breakfast, and getting set to leave for the imperial court when masa came to see me.
I assumed she had something essential to say to me, but what she said surprised me.

"Do You know Anuja didn't come downstairs to eat today?"

She spoke as if she expected me to be aware of the situation.

"It's not my fault; perhaps her parents didn't teach her enough manners."

I said merely re-engaging in my books after I learned that the topic of conversation is she.

"For once, can you care about her? I think she's upset with you because you literally threatened her yesterday."

It reminds me of the night before, when she completely ignored my presence; perhaps she is furious with me this time.

"What do you expect me to do, go apologise to her for slapping me in front of all my ministers and relatives?"

I remind her of why I threatened her in the first place, and how everything ends up being my fault at the end of the day.

"You still have to reconcile her; she is your wife, not some ordinary girl."

She said again changing the topic of discussion
"I won't because I have other important things to do."

"I yelled back, enraged.

"other things can wait, you go and give her a gift for her first rasoi"

She proposed a fresh method of reconciling with her daughter-in-law.

"You mean I should give her a gift for blowing up the entire palace, endangering everyone's lives, destroying all food, and then slapping me in front of everyone?"

I inform her once more that she, like her daughter in law, appears to have lost her memory.

"Vikram, you're going to her and giving her a gift; this is my final order; give her a chance; at the very least, I can see she's changing and becoming more responsible after marriage."

“but”

I attempted to object.

"I said what I needed to say: the first thing you're going to do is give her a gift."

And she exited my room.

I'm not sure if Anuja is a victim of witchcraft, but with my own mother always favouring her, I'm sure she is.

Arjun came hunting for me soon after she departed.

"Do you require anything?"

"No, you didn't show up, so I thought I'd come looking for you."

"Masaa wants me to send her daughter-in-law a gift"

“oh so what’s the issue? Send her one”

"I don't want to because she literally destroyed our month's worth of hard work and she claims to be maturing."

"I believe she is maturing and changing with time; she no longer clings to you like she did before marriage; remember how she used to come running every time you visited her empire, and now she hardly spares you any glance"

He finished, and I am in awe of him. Offcourse how can I forget he is one of those traitors.

"OK, then we'll see how mature she has become."

I went to my library and chose a few volumes to place in Arjun's hands, supposing he was perplexed.

"Why are you giving these to me?"

He was taken aback by my gesture.

"I want you to give them to her on my behalf, and you will see how mature she has become."

“how?”

'Don't you know she despises studies and literature? She will throw these books in your face because she expects some decorations or nice items such as jewelry or diamonds from me, and you will see that she is the same she can behave for a few days but her entire nature will not change overnight."

"I don't think it's a good idea because you already know she doesn't like books and it has nothing to do with her maturity."

"Why are you scared now?" that your forecast will be incorrect?"

"I don't mind, but I believe you're supposed to give her these."

"I have other important things to do; go give her these or forget about it."

"OK, I'll go"

He remarked, and just leave my chamber with books in his hands.

Anuja’s point of view

When I was little, I used to wonder what If I was born in the past, how would I live? It's no surprise that my perspective was completely different. I used to believe that I could live my life according to my own rules and that I would not have to be scared of anyone because I would be queen, and everyone is afraid of a queen.

but here Is that queen afraid or unwilling to leave her chamber in the expectation that she will not cause any chaos? I dislike being the centre of attention, but everything I do here makes me the centre of attention, so I decide to do what seems most convinent i.e hide.
Meera and mai had been by my side since the morning and had asked me numerous times if I wanted to leave the chamber, but I refused, claiming I didn't feel well, which was true, but more importantly, I don't want to cause any more commotion; I just want to live simply in peace.

But I was becoming bored because there wasn't anything to do,

“I am so bored”

I said

“what’s that?”

Gauri asked me, her countenance befuddled, and it was evident that Mai was as well.

"I mean, I'm not feeling well because there is nothing to do."

I clear them up. Mai's eyes brightened rapidly, and I knew she was thinking about something.

"Why don't we go to Rasoda and I teach you something or Gauri can teach you something to cook since you don't remember anything?"

She offered

“no …no. I don't want to go back to that terrible place, and if I make another mistake, the guy will either thow me out of the palace or feed me to alligators."

Mai and Gauri both chuckled at this.

"I'm not kidding."

"OK, are you aware that there will be a puppet show in the baradari (central courtyard for all ladies) in the evening?"

“really?”

Mai appears to be enthusiastic about this as well.

"I'm not some adolescent girl who gets excited about things like this."

I repeated them while laying on Gauri's lap.
“than what is fun for you?”

"Law, I want to know the law of this empire, Only law interests me”