Soulmate [UNEDITED]

talk

Everyone was getting on their way to their rooms, Tara too was on her way to her room, feeling happy about the success of her plan. A servant came to her as soon as she entered the room "nai ranisa (new queen) you've got a letter from videsh (outside India)" Tara got excited, was this Nayna?! Her hopes got high as she demanded the letter "really?!! Bring it to my study table, quick!!!" She was about to go when a call halt her "Tara!" She turned around to find Harshat behind that masculine voice, he came in, closer to Tara "thank you...".

...............................................

"Thank you?, thank you for what?" Tara questioned, Now he stood just face to face with Tara "I thought through some things clear because of you, can we talk?" His eyes were different today, as if it was of a innocent boy who wants to voice his words to prove his innocence "we can but-" maybe she tried to decline, maybe not, who knows because she was interrupted by him again " Please, don't say no, after so many years I felt this, this feeling of real judgement, just hear me out once, please" those eyes were not lying, Tara's eyes dwelled in his, looking for any kind of other emotions than pleading so that she can refuse him, but she found none. "Ok, but not now, let's meet at night" Harshat quickly agreed taking the chance he got just now. He left, but he also left those confusing questions inside Tara's head, what did he realise? He was angry even a day ago, ok maybe not angry, but he did caused interruption while talking with the other girls, she kept those thoughts for later as she focused on the letter she got, it has to be Nayana, who else would send letter to her from outside the country?

She ran upto the study table and opened the wax seal carefully, not to tear the letter inside, as she opened the letter, a soothing smell of rosemary spread around in the air, its probably a perfumed letter, like the ones Britisher love to use, it read.

Dear didi,
It's been a long time we have seen each other, how are you, were you able to adjust in that hell palace? How are mom and dad? I'm sure they were worried for both of us right? But what can we do? Look at our fate, making such a bad joke of our happy lives. Don't worry about me di, first few days were a bit struggling here, but a good willed man let me work in their house. They provide lodge to their staff, so I'm living just fine, but I'm worried about you guys, are you guys ok? That man said that after 2 months, I can visit home for vacation if I want, we will meet at that time ok? And if possible, I'll not return to England. But will that be ever possible?

I want to say so much more but the page is ending, what should I write, there is so many things to talk about, yet so limited.
Still, write back to the same address, if it reaches me like it did to you, maybe we can have conversations more often, I miss our home so much. I love you.

Pihu

The letter ended there, but water from Tara's eyes started to appear, finally she got a response from her sister,she was alive and well, all the negative, unnecessary thoughts surrounding her were proved wrong at last. She held the paper close to her chest and slided down on the chair, crying out her happy yet sad heart out. Now she got an address where she can send massage to get a reply from, but she needs to keep it a secret, even though the marriage was done, Harshat was a known womanizer, if she returns now, he may just marry her and keep her as his 22nd queen.

Tara took out some blank papers and started to write, Tara knew how to read and write, but she was not gifted, or she never new any other ways with words, her broken English can also only take over a conversation of basics. She started her letter

Dear Pihu,
I just got your letter , you don't know how much I'm releived to know that you're alright. Your defined knowledge and grasp on English finally came to a good test now. I'm unsure how much time it takes to reach it's destination, but I'll tell you when you can return through these, letters are safe, they usually don't read context after sealing.

I'll write a letter to know mom and dad that you're ok as well, they will be so happy to hear from you. I'll write again later, take care.

Tara.

With that, she finished her 1st letter as a reply to the letter she got, then she sat down to write another letter to her parents. Reassuring them that Nayna is perfectly fine. Now she just hopes the environment gets cool down quickly, so that Nayna can return and live happily like she used to do.

She called a trusted servant in and ordered to send the letters "Mahi, please deliver these letters for me to the postman. These are very important for my work, so please make sure you let anyone else look into it" she nodded a yes, but no one in this world should be fully trusted right? "Remember, I have eyes on your family" it was just a bluff to scare her of course, but she doesn't need to know that.

Now her relaxed mind suddenly reminded the conversation with Harshat. She went to the garden on the balcony of the palace, as they agreed to meet before he left.

The balcony was well decorated with a fusion of Indian and western designs, table, chair, candles on table, what shocked her the most were the rose petals. Harshat was no were to be found, she sat on the chair to wait for him.

She waited,

And waited, until.....