Vaidehi | ✎

[15]

Dedicated to MeghnaSamanta 🩷

___________

Two days later.

We arrive at Mewar at six in the evening. The palanquin is set down on the ground with a soft thud, giving me my signal to get down. Raghavendra rode his horse and the queen had her own palanquin so I didn't have anyone to share room with which luckily meant peace of mind. In the last few days so many new developments have happened that I did require some peace and quiet to process it.

We left Saanchi early morning and reached Mewar by evening, so it wasn't a very long journey either.

"Rajkumari Vaidehi, you may come out." A lady servant tells me peeking her head in. I nod and duck myself out of the palanquin.

When I emerge out the first thing I notice is Raghavendra and Rani Meerabai, my mother in law, standing at the gate with identical smiles waiting for me. I reach them, adjusting my veil over my head. My mother in law excuses herself and tell us she has to go to prepare for my aarti. Once she is out of ear shot, Raghavendra dips his head to my ear.

"There is a surprise waiting for you inside." Raghavendra whispers. I raise an eyebrow at him suspiciously.
What is that supposed to mean?

He takes my hand and pulls me forward, the palace gates are golden and huge, the architecture breathtaking. It's spanned over a humungous area, definitely much larger than the palace in Saanchi.
The entire palace is aglow with lit up diyas giving a gorgeous golden glow to it, contrasting the dark sky.

We go up the steps quickly, so I don't get enough time to take everything in properly. That ticks me off.
"Raghvendra...will you please slow down, I want to-" My words come to a halt when we stop just before the entrance. Because there stands Aditi with Raghavendra's mother, whose holding a aarti thali in her hands.

I want to scream, shout, at the very least get some words out but nothing comes out at all. My vocal chords stay paralysed and my mouth stays agape.

Aditi continues to smile, a huge grin on her pretty face as my mother in law finishes up with my aarti. Finally, she welcomes us in. I am asked to push the vessel of rice grains with my feet, as I enter in. I do so and then step into the alta filled copper plate which colours my feet bright red for my first steps into my husband's palace.

"Go on, Aditi will show you up to your quarters. Freshen up, it'll be time for dinner soon." Raghvendra's mother tells me with a soft smile. I nod at her. And the next second Aditi has grabbed my hand and is leading me through the hallway to the stairs.

"Aditi!" My vocal chords have finally decided to wake up. "What in the world are you doing here!" My voice is loud enough to echo in the hallway. I catch Raghvendra's laugh in the background.

"Shhh. Let's get you to your quarters first." That's all she says until we reach said quarters. The door is  unlocked open by her and a fresh rosy smell greets us the second the doors are opened. I follow her in. She shuts the door behind us.

"Vaidehi!" She jumps and wraps me in a tight hug. I mimic the motion. God it's been so long.

I sigh. She sighs too.
"How have you been?" I ask her. She  withdraws her hands and goes to sit on the bed.

"Good enough. I've missed you a ton and almost drove myself crazy wondering how you've been doing." She admits with a laugh.
I throw my veil to the side and get to removing my nose ring. She comes to help me.

"Sit back. Let me do it for you." She tells, guiding me to the dressing table.
"How have you been?" She asks.

I sigh again. "Everything has been a little too much, honestly. But I am getting by. Trying to get used to it.  Raghvendra is nice though. Like really nice. So that helps. "