Praise The Husband

Chapter 12

Raivati  was sitting in the garden, enjoying the cool evening breeze when Padama, Madhavi, Runjhun, and Vineeta approached her. Raivati knew what they were going to say even before they opened their mouths.

"Raivati, we were just talking," Padama said, her eyes darting over to Sundari who was walking in the garden, "and we were thinking... Rudransh is spending too much time with Sundari. Maybe we should do something about it."

Raivati felt a twinge of anger building inside her. She had always known that the concubines were envious of her and Sundari but she never thought they would stoop so low. "Absolutely not," she said firmly, "you won't hurt Sundari in any way. If anything happens to her, I will not spare you, and I will tell Rudransh everything."

Padama, Madhavi, Runjhun, and Vineeta exchanged nervous glances, realizing that Raivati meant business. "Why are you defending her anyway?" Runjhun spoke up. "She's trying to steal Rudransh from you too."

Raivati could feel her heart breaking at the sight of Sundari's and Rudransh's closeness. How much she wished she was in Sundari's place, but she knew she had to be strong. "I love Rudransh with all of my heart," she said, "and I will love everything and anyone he loves. I don't want to see him sad. But that doesn't mean I will let anyone hurt Sundari or anyone else."

Padama, Madhavi, Runjhun, and Vineeta just rolled their eyes, muttering under their breath as they left. Raivati took a deep breath, feeling a sense of peace descending on her as she watched the sunset.

But deep down, she could feel the flames of anger still flickering inside her. She knew that the concubines would stop at nothing to get what they wanted. She had already come to distrust them, but now she felt a deep loathing for them. 

Raivati grabbed a small knife before gently peeling an apple.

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Sundari groaned inwardly as the head maid stopped her on her way to her small home. She had been looking forward to a few moments of peace and quiet after a long day of work, but it seemed like the head maid had other plans.

"Sundari, the king needs you in his office," the old maid said in a no-nonsense voice. "It's your duty as his personal maid to attend to his every need."

Sundari sighed, her heart sinking as she realized that she would have to forego her plans for the night. "But it's so dark now," she protested. "Why does he need me?"

"Don't question the king," the head maid snapped, her voice harsh. "Just go to his office, now."

Sundari couldn't help but feel a sense of dread wash over her as she knocked on Rudransh's office door. "Come in," he said, his voice gruff.

Sundari entered the room, feeling a surge of annoyance wash over her. "What do you need?" she asked, trying to keep her tone neutral.

"I have some paperwork to do," Rudransh said, "and I need you to grind some ink for me."

Sundari felt her heart sink as she realized what she was going to be doing for the next few hours. Grind ink. Boring, tedious work that would keep her up past midnight. She nodded, trying not to show her displeasure, and started grinding away.

As time went on, Sundari found herself growing increasingly sleepy, the grind of the ink stone lulling her into a state of stupor. She yawned repeatedly, almost falling asleep where she stood.

Rudransh noticed her state and smiled. "That's enough for now," he said, setting down his quill. "Go get me some water."

Sundari nodded, groggy and bleary-eyed as she made her way to the kitchen. And that's when she got an idea. She pretended to trip, spilling the water all over Rudransh."Oh no, I'm so sorry," she said, her voice a sickly sweet whine. "I feel terrible."