Beyond The Palace Walls| ONGOING

Chapter - 09

Agastya's POV:

I sat at the bench, my eyes scanning the park as the sun began to set. The sound of children's laughter and chirping birds filled the air, but my mind was elsewhere.

I had yelled at her, said things I couldn't take back. And now, as I sat there, I couldn't help but wonder if she would ever forgive me.

As I sat there, lost in thought, I heard the sound of anklets jingling in the distance. My heart skipped a beat as I turned to see her walking towards me. That same face, that same spark in her eyes. I felt a pang of guilt and regret wash over me. I had been so reckless, so thoughtless. I had hurt her, and now she was standing before me, a reminder of my own shortcomings.

She approached me slowly, her eyes avoiding mine. I could feel the weight of my mistakes bearing down on me.

She came... She'll forgive me. But why? What did she see in me that made her willing to forgive me? I thought about all the times I had taken her for granted. Yet, here she was, standing before me like a fragile flower that could be crushed by a single misstep.

I felt a lump form in my throat as I looked at her. She was so beautiful, so pure. And yet, I had been so careless with her emotions.

Third person POV:

She stood before him, her eyes flashing with a mixture of anger and hurt. "I don't understand you," she said, her voice trembling with emotion. "That day, you yelled at me because I accidentally threw down a woman's stall. And then, out of nowhere, you come to me and tell me you're friends with Prince Veer?"

Agastya winced at the memory. He had been so caught up in his own emotions, so consumed by his own drama, that he had forgotten about what she might've felt.

"Aur phir aap aakar hume bhayadohan karte hai ki agar humne aapse shadi nahi Kari toh aap humare iss Raaz ko pure Rajasthan mein fela denge." She continued, her voice rising in outrage. "Itna sab kuch hone ke baad aap hume maafinama bhejte hai. What is there to apologize for?"
("And then you threaten me that if I do not marry you then you will expose my secret to whole of Rajasthan ." She continued, her voice rising in outrage. "After all this come and apologize. What is there to apologize for?")

Agastya's eyes dropped to the ground, shame washing over him. He had been so reckless, so thoughtless, and now he was paying the price. He knew he had to be honest with her, but what was the truth? That he was a mess? That he was lost and unsure of himself? That he didn't know what he wanted or how to get it?

He took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing heart. He knew he had to be honest, but the words refused to come out. All he could manage was a weak apology. "I'm sorry," he whispered, his voice barely audible. "I'm so sorry for everything I've done."

"Aapko sorry bolna bhi aata hai?" Meera taunted.
(Do you even know how to say sorry?)

Agastya's eyes rolled heavenward as if he was the only one who knew the gravity of the situation. "Mere pass zubaan hai, Meera" he drawled, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
(I have a tongue, Meera)

Meera's gaze narrowed, her eyes flashing with anger. "Itne bade businessman hai aap, aur aapko theek se maafi maangni bhi nahi aati." She spat, her voice venomous.
(You are such a big businessman, and you don't even know how to apologize properly.)

"You're being unreasonable, Rajkumari " Agastya's expression turned cold, his jaw clenched in frustration.

But Meera just laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. "Unreasonable? You're the one who's being unreasonable. Aapko kya lagta hai ki sorry kehne se sab thik ho jayega."
(Do you think that saying sorry will make everything okay?)