ᴅɪʟ ᴋɪ ɴᴀʏɪ ᴅʜᴀᴅᴋᴀɴ

c h a p t e r 4

The general signaled the guard, to open Parwati's cell, who hesitated slightly before obeying the order. Stepping inside, the general delivered a brutal kick to Parwati's ribs, causing her to curl up in pain. He then yanked her up by her hair, spitting in her face with contempt. "All you had to do was ask politely to take that girl's place. I always preferred you anyway" he taunted, his words dripping with cruelty.

"Let go of me!" Parwati cried out, the pain from his grip on her hair evident in her voice.

"Don't pretend like you didn't bring this upon yourself" the general sneered, swiftly moving to pull out his flaccid shaft. "Now be a good girl, Rajkumari, and serve your new master" he commanded, attempting to force himself down her throat.

Parwati vehemently turned her head away and pushed against the general's knees with all her strength, strands of her hair tearing in the process, causing him to lose his balance. Desperately, she retreated into a corner, tears streaming down her face. "Help, please!" she begged the guard stationed outside.

Enraged, the general lunged forward, hauling Parwati back and delivering a vicious slap. "Shut up, you wretched whore!" he spat, twisting her arms painfully behind her back.

"Help me, please!" Parwati sobbed, her pleas echoing in the empty corridor of the dungeons, as she appealed to the indifferent guard.

Fear gripped Parwati as the general straddled her back, forcing her onto her knees with her face pressed against the cold ground. Soft chants of "No, no, no" escaped her lips, terror consuming her as the general reached for her lehenga. But just as despair threatened to overwhelm her, a glimmer of hope emerged as the guard stationed outside intervened.

"Sir, please step out of the cell. What you're doing is highly inappropriate" the guard declared firmly, his voice cutting through the tense air.

Pausing momentarily, the general retorted, "If you value your job, then you'll learn to mind your own business."

"This is my job, sir, and I will not allow you to violate a prisoner under my watch. Unless, of course, the Maharaj says otherwise" the guard stated resolutely, his unwavering stance a testament to his integrity.

Infuriated by the guard's defiance, the general contemplated silencing him permanently, but the prospect of a missing prison guard raised too many suspicions, especially considering his intentions to become a regular visitor to the Rajkumari. Reluctantly, he decided to resort to bribery.

"Name your price, guard" the general ordered, his tone laced with thinly veiled threats.

Parwati let out another sob, her hope dwindling as she met the guard's gaze, silently pleading for his mercy. Tear streaks marred her face as she awaited the guard's response.

After a tense moment of deliberation, the guard took a deep breath and replied, "Unfortunate for you, general, I'm not on sale."

Gritting his teeth in frustration, the general stood up, his fists clenching and unclenching as he grappled with the guard's unwavering morality. However, he knew he couldn't afford to have the guard report him to Vikram. With a forced chuckle, he exited the cell, patting the guard's back in a pretense of camaraderie.

"It's good to know we still have faithful men in our ranks" he praised, masking his irritation as he made his way out, resigned to the fact that he had no choice but to find another opportunity to carry out his sinister plans.

"Thank you" Parwati whispered to the guard as she rearranged her dress, her voice barely audible as she tried to compose herself.

The young guard entered her cell, crouching down to meet Parwati at eye level. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have let him inside" he sighed, his expression filled with regret.

Parwati simply nodded, still shaken by the recent ordeal. It was one thing to endure such abuse from her husband, but the general was a stranger, and his actions left her feeling violated and vulnerable.

"Are you really the queen of Paudhagarh?" the guard inquired, curiosity evident in his tone.

"I was" Parwati corrected him, her voice tinged with a hint of sadness.

"So it's Rajkumari...?" the guard trailed off.

"Parwati. Just call me Parwati" she replied softly.

"Okay then, I'm Gaurav" he introduced himself, extending his hand for a handshake.

Parwati smiled, shaking his hand. Not everyone in this foreign kingdom was corrupt or cruel, she realized, as Gaurav got up and stepped outside the prison, locking her cell once again. "Gaurav?" Parwati began tentatively, her voice carrying a weight of uncertainty.

"Yes?" Gaurav responded, his attention fully focused on her.

"I need to speak with the king" Parwati paused, searching his expression for any sign of understanding. "To request a fair trial" she explained, urgency lacing her words.

"You've not faced trial?" Guarav asked, surprise evident in his tone, as if such oversight was unheard of.

Parwati shook her head. "The general—"

"Influenced the king's decision" He finished, his understanding dawning.

"But why—wait, are you the reason he's walking on his right leg?" Guarav inquired, connecting the dots.

"I guess you could say that" she shrugged, a hint of reluctance in her admission.

"What do you mean, Parwati?" He pressed, eager for clarity.

"Look, Gaurav, that's not important right now" she deflected.

"But—" he began to protest.

"What's important is that I speak with the king" she reiterated firmly.

Gaurav nodded in understanding. "I know, Parwati, but the general—he's very close to the king."

"I don't think Maharaj will let you off easily if you're truly the reason the general is wounded" He explained, his tone filled with concern.

"Oh" Parwati whispered, her shoulders slumping with disappointment.

"But what he did tonight was not acceptable" Gaurav interjected, injecting a glimmer of hope into the conversation.

"So, I'll try my best to get you an audience with the king" he promised, his eyes reflecting pity for her plight.

Parwati nodded in gratitude, her understanding evident. "Thank you" she whispered, lying down and closing her eyes, desperately hoping that this nightmare would dissipate when she awoke.

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ᴘʟᴇᴀsᴇ ᴠᴏᴛᴇ ɪғ ʏᴏᴜ ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴛʜᴇ sᴛᴏʀʏ
ɪᴛ ᴋᴇᴇᴘs ᴍᴇ ᴍᴏᴛɪᴠᴀᴛᴇᴅ.
ᴛʜᴀɴᴋ ʏᴏᴜ!