VOWS OF MARRIAGE | ✔ [Under Editing]

34 | The Harsh Lessons

🪞MIRA🪞

Everyone was staring at me. Some with confusion, some with pity, and some with judgment in their eyes. Their stares made me want to hide my face. I had always known that with Vikram Mehra's real identity revealed, my own truth would lay bare in front of the world, and I would become the object of societal criticism.

I was in the Rajput Palace, and every eye was fixated upon me, demanding answers. There were royal subjects, advisors, and servants. Everyone was there. But those who mattered most to me were my family, who were looking at me with confusion as well as pity.

'Please don't make them hate me,' I prayed to God silently.

"Mira, explain to us what's going on," Papa asked. Usually, he speaks to me with endearment, but this time his tone was different.

My heart was bleeding at the thought that he might judge me just like my real parents did, or worse, that he would show me pity. But I don't want anyone's pity. No.

My head hung low as I couldn't have any answers to give to my own family.

"Yuvrani," Dadi-sa spoke for the first time in almost half an hour.

My gaze slowly went towards her direction. She looked at me with a strange expression that I couldn't quite decipher.

My eyes were on the verge of tears. She has always been a mother figure to me, my only best friend. Every time I got into some problem, she has always been my rescue, but what if this horrible past of mine would destroy everything?

"Meet me in my room," she announced while making her way towards her room.

But before I could go there, Sid's hold on me tightened. "Don't push her for things if she's not comfortable speaking about them," his voice hardened as he shot a glare at everyone.

"I didn't ask anything of you, son. I just want to have a short talk between me and Yuvrani," Dadi-sa said while turning back.

"Sid," I silently told him to let me go.

Sighing deeply, he released my hand, and I followed Dadi-sa to her chamber.

As we walked through the long corridors, memories of happier times with Dadi-sa flashed before my eyes. I remembered the evenings we spent together, her teaching me the traditions of our family, her laughter ringing through these very halls. Now, the silence between us was unbearable.

When I entered her room, she locked the door. I could feel her eyes on me, piercing through the facade I had tried so hard to maintain.

"Mira," she began softly, spreading her arms wide. Without thinking for another moment, I launched myself into her embrace. My tears flowed freely, as if there was no tomorrow. She didn't say anything, but she continuously patted my back and occasionally ran her hand over my hair, soothing me.