THE RULERS OF RISHABHAPRIYA

The Send Off

Surabhi's POV

After the bath, we both got dressed up again and walked down for breakfast. My whole family was there along with Maharaj Madhav and Bhargav's sisters and cousins. We had our breakfast while the kids got to know each other and talked about some random things. One thing I observed was Maharaj Madhav and Sunaina and the tension in between them. It was definitely not something romantic but I could feel that their moods were actually how they felt for each other. At one point in the breakfast, both of them extended their hands to grab something at the same time and pulled away while glaring at each other. While the others were smiling and admiring the cuteness of Sunaina's siblings, I kept watching these two wage a silent war.

I sighed and got back to eating when Bhaiyya announced, "We plan on starting our journey back today in the afternoon, Maharaj. Your kingdom is so beautiful that I am literally pulling my family out of here. None of them want to leave", everyone laughed. "I am just so disappointed that I couldn't be here to show you around or make sure everything was up to the mark", Bhargav said. Dheer Bhaiyya replied to him, "You have given us our sister back. There is nothing we can do to repay you. All of this is too negligible".

After breakfast, all of us spent some time in the royal gardens while the packing was still going on. Soon, it was time for lunch and after that, we had to leave. I said that I wanted to eat in my chamber alone and left the others. I hadn't even reached my chamber and I had started crying. I dismissed the attendees and guards from my chamber and closed the door behind me. I laid on my stomach on the bed and let my sobs out. I did not want to leave him or this kingdom. Apart from fearing that the people of Ratnagarbha accepting me or not, I had no other problems in going back there. It was still my Motherland. The blood that still flows through my veins belong to that kingdom. But I was not prepared to stay away from Bhargav for such a long time. 

I wiped my tears and looked at the door when I heard someone open the door of my chamber. Bhargav walked in with a lunch plate in his hands and sat on the couch facing the bed. "Someone still needs to follow a strict diet, remember?", he said and went to fetch some water from a near by table. I got up and sat on the couch and he came back to sit beside me. "Hmmm... So shall we start feeding you?", he said with a lot of unusual enthusiasm. "Why are you acting like Radhika?", I muttered and opened my mouth when he stretched his hand to feed me the food. I was starving but did not have enough strength to not break down in front of everyone. 

After a few bites, he muttered, "Enjoy each bite, Surabhi. This will be your last meal in my kingdom for a while", I push the plate back and looked at him in anger when in reality I had just started crying again. "Awww.. I hurt my babyyyy", he pulled me to his chest while sarcastically consoling me. I hit his chest and pulled away to drink some water. It was quiet for a while until he asked, "Do you remember the first time we had our lunch together?", I nodded and laughed. 

"How can I forget that? I just wanted to bang your head to the table until the words of the documents were printed in your head. And I was so, so, so hungry that day. It was so tough bringing you until here. When was it, like nine months ago?", he nodded and fed me another bite. We both cleaned ourselves and sat on the bed this time with my head on his lap while he played with my hair. "Will you be okay without me?", I asked worried. "I will have to be. I am a king. I should be like one. Even though my queen isn't around", I nodded and looked at the chamber. "After I leave, keep my chamber the way it is now. When I come back, I do not want to see anything different", I said. "Yes, my lady", he laughed. "I'll come back right?", I asked. He sighed and caressed my hair before he whispered, "Surabhi, I will wage a battle against Ratnagarbha for you if I have to. But you will sit on this throne. There should be no doubt about that. Ok?", I nodded.

A knock on the door interrupted us and an attendee came in to inform that it was time to leave. My throat tightened and turned painful but I held myself together and got up from his lap. I looked at him and lost all control over my tears. "Hey, shhh! This distance will test our love. We should show how strong it is. Right?", I nodded in his chest. I pulled away and cupped his cheeks, "Don't make me wait, Bhargav. Each and every part of me will be waiting for you to come take me back home. I will be waiting for you there", he smiled and kissed my lips. 

Just as we pulled away, there was another knock on the door and this time, it was my sisters-in-law. A few attendees walked behind them with huge golden plates. "What happened, Bhabhi? I thought we were leaving?", I asked. Aparajitha Bhabhi smiled and said, " Yes, Surabhi. We are leaving. But when you came here, you were a princess and was not treated like one. But now, when you leave, we wanted you to leave with all respects a princess gets. And your brother did not like seeing you in men's clothing".

Roop Bhabhi added, "Yes. So, let us quickly get you changed. Okay?", I smiled at her. "I'll see you outside then", Bhargav said and left after smiling at them. "He is a great guy, Surabhi. There is no way Maharaj will say no to him", Bhabhi said. I said I hoped he would not say no to Bhargav as I watched him walk out of the chamber. The attendees helped me freshen up and brought me out of the bathing area. I looked at all the plates and Bhabhi ordered them to remove the cover cloths from all of them. One after the other, each plate was uncovered to show a beautiful royal blue lehenga on one plate and the rest were gold ornaments. 

While one was working on my hair, another attendee would be tying the necklace around me neck as another put the earrings on. This continued until all the jewelries on the plates were on me. The attendees left and my sisters-in-law held my shoulder to help me stand up. I looked at the mirror and saw myself looking like the old Surabhi. Covered in precious metals from head to toe, a sense of authority and royalty dancing on my face while my posture and outfit demanded attention from everyone. "Very soon, I hope, we will get to help you get ready for your wedding too like this", I smiled as I turned red. 

They walked me out of my chamber and I thanked the attendees who had served me while I was at Rishabhapriya. We walked down the stairs of the palace and I looked around already missing the place. We stopped for the announcer and then walked out of the palace to join everyone who were waiting for us. The whole place echoed with the sound of trumpets as soon as I stepped out with my sisters-in-law beside me. Firstly, I saw Bhargav's parents and bent to touch their feet. His mother pulled me to a hug and whispered, "We will come to Ratnagarbha and speak to your brother about you both. Don't worry", I nodded and pulled away. She cupped my cheek and blessed me with a genuine smile on her face. 

Then I saw Janaki and Radhika beside them, "We are all here with Bhargav. Don't worry. Just come back soon", she said while holding back her tears. I nodded and hugged her too. I then kissed Radhika on her forehead and said, "Take care of yourself and your brother for me, please", she nodded with teary eyes and said, "Come back soon, Hita. I can't stay here without you. The palace is too big. I will get lost", I laughed at her words and promised I would be back soon. I saw Chetan and his partner after that, "It feels like I'm sending my sister off to her husband's home", he said playfully. I sighed looking at him and he whispered, "We will stand the whole army of Rishabhapriya at the palace gates of Ratnagarbha if we have to. You are our queen and no one can change that, Surabhi. Go show your face to those people and our king will be there by then to bring you back".

I smiled and walked away from him to stand behind my brother. I kept looking at the ground while my brother and Bhargav exchanged some greetings for formal reasons as a lot of people had gathered to send us off. Soon, it was time for me to return the sword I had received during my appointment as his royal adviser. I stepped forward and removed the swords from my waist band along with it's cover and extended it towards him with both hands. A minister spoke, "Your service to the kingdom has brought great prosperity and peace in the kingdom, Rajkumari Surabhi. However, destiny has revealed new paths for you and I am very delighted to witness you return to your birthplace. In any moment where you need someone's help, do not hesitate to reach out to us. Me and my people will always be grateful for your contribution to Rishabhapriya", I nodded and finally looked up at him. 

His eyes too were red as if he had cried. All I wanted to do was to turn to my brother and say that I did not want to go with him and stay in Bhargav's arms forever. But I was tied in the binds of being a royal. I bowed to him and walked away from him after taking in his appearance on last time. We were walked to our respective palanquins and I looked back one last time to see him standing at the foot of the flight of stairs which led to the entrance of the palace. There he stood with hands behind his back and a risen up chest looking like a true king in his royal clothing. A lone tear escaped from my eyes and rolled down my cheeks as I unwillingly tore my eyes away from him and sat inside the palanquin. 

One after the other, the palanquins were lifted, the horses were climbed upon and our journey started to Ratnagarbha while I silently cried in my palanquin all alone and away from my love.

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I literally want to cry rn

Lots of love💗