Niharika sat at her dresser, humming a melodic tune as she expertly lined her eyes with kohl. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Parwati enter the room. "I knew you'd come" she grinned, standing up gracefully.
After Devi Ma had mentioned the harem during breakfast, Parwati's curiosity had been piqued. Despite trying to talk herself out of visiting, her curiosity won out, and she found herself standing in the harem after instructing Gaurav not to follow her. It wasn't as if she had anything better to do, after all.
"Parwati, right?" Niharika said, but Parwati didn't bother responding, too busy taking in her surroundings.
The king's harem was a vast, opulent space, adorned with richly embroidered tapestries and plush cushions scattered across the floor. The air was scented with jasmine and rose, and soft, luxurious carpets covered the ground. Despite its grandeur, the room was empty, devoid of the usual throng of women one might expect.
"You can stop looking. There's no one here except me" Niharika said, walking up to her. When Parwati gave her a confused glance, she added, beaming, "Yeah, that's right. I'm the only woman in Vikram's harem."
"Aw, you look so cute when you're confused" Niharika mocked, twirling a strand of her hair around her finger.
"Well, let me educate you" she continued, beginning to slowly circle Parwati. "Vikram got rid of the harem he used to have when he previously got married, or at least that's what I've heard—I wasn't here back then." She paused, relishing the moment. "But then his marriage fell apart, and his harem remained empty. Maybe out of loyalty, or maybe he just forgot about it. Who knows?" She chuckled softly. "Then one night—this is my favorite part, by the way—he slept with a beautiful woman and decided to keep her as part of his harem."
"That woman? is me, of course" she declared with a hair flip, coming to a stop in front of Parwati again.
Parwati stood there, absorbing the information and the scene around her. The lavish emptiness of the harem, the confidence of the woman before her, and the stories of a past she hadn't been a part of all swirled together, leaving her with more questions than answers.
"Now tell me, why did you marry Vikram?" Niharika asked, her voice dripping with curiosity and a hint of malice.
Parwati turned her face to the side, refusing to give her an answer, her lips pressed into a firm line.
"For money?" Niharika cocked her head to the side, gauging Parwati's reaction. "Power, Queendom?....love?" She prodded, her words a calculated dance aimed at eliciting a response. She got what she wanted when Parwati looked up at the word 'love'.
A slow, fox-like smile spread across Niharika's face. "Oh, poor Parwati" she mocked, running the back of her finger across Parwati's cheek. "It's bold of you to think Vikram would ever love you when he's still in love with his first wife."
Parwati's eyes glistened with tears, but she refused to shed even one. She softly pushed Niharika's hand away.
"I'm not going to compete with you" Parwati said, her voice steady despite the emotions swirling within her. "So there's no need for you to feel threatened. Oh, and—your eyeliner is longer on one side" she added, her tone genuine, before walking out.
"What?" Niharika exclaimed, rushing to the mirror and confirming that her eyeliner was indeed longer on one side. "How dare she" she scoffed, her blood boiling.
But she didn't get to simmer in her anger for long. Vikram, having overheard everything, stormed in. Niharika quickly composed herself and exclaimed nervously, "Maharaja Vikram, wha- what brings you here?"
The atmosphere in the harem shifted dramatically. Vikram's face was a mask of fury, his eyes blazing as he crossed the room in a few swift strides. Without warning, he slammed Niharika against the wall, his hand wrapped around her neck, almost choking her.
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Historical Fiction"You can let go of me now" Parwati said softly, her lehenga now thoroughly drenched, though she couldn't say that the Maharaj was looking any better. "Why?" Vikram's voice was low, his grip on her waist tightening almost possessively. Parwati's bre...
