Shadow and Light

10

VOTE! VOTE!

The light

She fell asleep.

She got punched, her jaw might be dislocated but she still finds the strength to sleep.

Watching her sleep, so calmly as if she has no pain in this world made my eyes droopy too.

I walk over to her bed and crash on the other side from exhaustion.

I wake up to multiple knocks on the door, who dares to disrupt my sleep?

"Maharaj? Maharaj?" the voice eerily sounds like Meera's, but she wouldn't dare to disturb me unless there was something utterly important.

I wake up in an instant, noticing the change in my whereabouts, one of my arms feel numb, looking on my side, I see that she is sleeping on my arm, using it as a pillow, snuggling in.

My whole-body paralyses on the view, my hand involuntarily brushing away the strand of hair on her face, making her squirm.

I can't let her wake up I slowly take my hand from under her head trying not to wake up, the knocks growing louder.

I turn up successful, a view out of the window told me it was time for the evening prayer, for how long did we sleep?

I walk up to the door, unlocking it, "Quite down Meera, she is asleep" I tell the head of servants.

"You slept in her room?" she questioned, I nodded already frustrated that she knows, "You are not married yet your highness" she complains, "It is not how you think it is, we didn't sleep together, I was too exhausted so I crashed on the sofa, that's it" I explain.

She sizes me up and down making sure I was telling the truth, I am lying, slightly. But she doesn't catch on, "The pandit ji is calling you for the evening prayer" she tells me and walks away, slight disappointment in her stance.

I reach the pooja sthal (worshipping grounds), all the eyes turn in my direction. I bow in front of the pandit ji, taking my place in front of the hawan kund, an empty stool resides beside me.

"Where is the Queen-to-be, Maharaj?" pandit ji asks.

Sleeping, But I couldn't tell him that, what would he think? "I am here Pandit Ji, Sorry to keep you waiting" I heard her voice, how?

"You could have woken me up as well" she muttered right in my ear, "I didn't know your presence would be needed, little Killer" I whispered back.

"Why did you sleep in my chambers?" she interrogated, "I fell asleep, couldn't help it" I answered back, "That's why you shouldn't..." "Shh..." I interrupt "The pooja is going on"

She closes her mouth immediately.

After the prayers and the ceremony, we all dispersed back to our works. I couldn't hold court today! Just because of her.

I curse out, I should have killed her when I had the chance, now I can't.

"Bhaiya?" I turn around, I had almost forgotten my brother was back home, I walked up to him and punched him on the face, "This is for not coming back home in 3 years" I punched him again, "This is for never writing any letters" Again, "This one is because I feel like it" I had bruised his right cheek pretty roughly, then I hugged him, "Welcome home bhai!" I tell him.

"I will never understand you, and Ouch!" he tells me breaking away from my embrace, "That was the roughest welcome I have ever gotten" he tells me, "Don't worry I have enough qualified doctors in this kingdom to treat you" I smile and pat his back. "Let's go in" I was the happiest in that moment, I had my brother back.