Vaidehi | ✎

[17]

A/n:
Show some love, loves.

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"The court is dismissed." A loud deep voice announces, adjourning the royal court for the day. I take a peek through the transparent curtain and sigh as Maharaja Shivraj rises up and everyone rises up with him respectfully. After he departs, the ministers too start scrambling away.

"It's time for us to leave too." my mother in law tells me, she was seated just next to me.
I nod and follow her out.

"So as you know we have organised a Puja and dinner for your and Raghavendra's marriage celebration this evening. And it's a custom for the mother in law to personally weave the saree that the daughter in law, will wear on her first Puja after marriage." She informs me with a soft smile.

"Oh...that's wonderful, rani- err, maa."

She pats my shoulder. "Come with me to my quarters. I'll give it to you in person. "
I oblige and we make our way to her quarters. She makes small talk with me regarding how I am settling in Mewar and I obviously answer positively.

When the doors to her quarters are opened my breath catches in my throat at the grandeur. A low whistle leaves me of its own accord.

She chuckles. "It is quite grand when you see it for the first time." She agrees.

"It is truly something. Did you have it redecorated after you moved into the queen's quarters?" I ask. My eyes wander to the huge glittering chandelier hung just above the bedding.

"Oh no. Before the queen's quarters used to be different you know. This wasn't the main palace. The main palace was the south building. But Raghavendra's father had it changed. This place was way better vastu wise, especially after all the new developments we had made in the architecture of the palace. He is really big on Astrology, you know. So these quarters have only been lived in by me."
She explains. I don't reply with anything but a nod. I'm still trying to take it all in. So she goes to the cupboard section, I assume to retrieve my saree.

"Here." She hands it to me. A maroon saree, woven from what feels like the softest silk, it has a thick golden border with intricate pattern but that is about all the detailing there is. The rest of the saree is plain. Giving it a simplicity that is elegant enough. Not too extra, not too plain. It's a perfect balance. "Do you like it?" She asks hopefully, taking a seat on the bed.

"Ofcourse. It is...it is so pretty." I genuinely say.

She smiles. There is a kindness to Rani Meerabai. The way she smiles, the way she talks. It makes her seem approachable. A stark contrast to my father's wife, Devyani. I wonder how they ever became friends in the first place.

"I am glad you like it... because, I hadn't started designing it with you in mind you know... because I got to working on it right when Raghav's marriage alliance was fixed with Radhika. But I was barely starting when the plans changed because of...that whole situation..... And then, well, when I met you I immediately knew how I had to design your saree. You're so simple in the way you are Vaidehi, probably comes from the village roots, but your simplicity doesn't take anything away from your elegance. It's a hard mix to have, but then again, your mother is just the same. It's not surprise who you've inherited it from." She explains everything so kindly that I can't even bother to get offended at mention of Raghav and Radhika.

"You know, I'll be honest, when the plans changed and your father told us about you and his plans about the new alliance I was worried. Raghavendra's father didn't mind it at all, because he trusted his friend's idea. We have been aware about your existence since you were born, so you weren't a surprise to us. But still, I had a fear in mind because I hadn't ever met you. Raghav's wife will be the future queen of Mewar afterall, I didn't want to make a grave mistake that we would live to regret. But then I met you, and your feisty behaviour impressed me and Raghav's father immediately. You were obviously talented too, proved by the classical dance performance you put on with Radhika on your father's birthday and then you were polite too with elders."
She continues on, "Don't quote me anywhere, but I have to say, I was happy with the way Devyani disliked you and the stories she told me about you talking back to her. Because it's very important for a queen to be able to stand up for herself and hold her own. It's a shame I could never be like that. I've always been a people pleaser, a trait I hate about myself and it was good to know you weren't like that."

"Umm...Thank you...maa." I don't know want to say. I wasn't prepared to have a heart to heart with my mother in law out for nowhere.

"You're very kind, maa. People pleaser or not, you're immensely loved throughout the kingdom all because of your kindness and generosity. You are the perfect queen. Besides, I don't have a lot of role models in that respect, it's either you or Devyani, which basically means you're my only choice." She throws her head back and laughs.

"I never did like her that much either. She is too bitter, too...sorry to say this but, she is shrewd. She has her good traits too, but there is a reason your father could never love her afterall right. He is a honourable man, your father. I hope you don't still blame him." She says the last part carefully, as if trying to test my waters.

I shrug. "I mostly don't. My mother gave me a basic picture of the situation. So, there is very less reason to blame them."

"Give it time. Any negative feelings you may harbour will also go away." She assures.

We sit in silence for a few seconds before a loud bang at the door interrupts us.
"Maharani ji!" A middle aged lady clad in a white saree emerges at the door, panting. "Rani ji, there is a girl. She...she says she needs to meet you."

Meerabai rises up, her forehead scrunching up. "What is the matter, Lakshmi?" she asks worriedly. The lady shakes her head, her eyes are fearful.
"It's serious." Is all she says in response.

The queen calls for me, asking me to come with her. I oblige, following her out. The lady in white takes us to a small room through the hallway and when the doors are opened, a young girl, looking about fifteen, is lying on the bed, bruised and bleeding. She is moaning in pain as some women cater to her.

"Ohmygod." The gasp leaves me in a breath.

The queen's low pained moan is barely audible on the other hand. She must be practiced on how to react on such situations. Me, on the other hand, obviously not.

"Someone quickly! Call the royal doctor!" The queen shouts and two women scamper away at her command. She kneels down next to the girl and gently caresses her forehead. "It'll be alright, dear." She coos.

My feet stay rooted to the ground as I watch the queen be a queen.

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