THE RULERS OF RISHABHAPRIYA

A Battle?

Surabhi's POV

"Bhaiyya, I am saying this to you in the nicest way known to me that you deserve, DO NOT speak about MY kingdom like that", he stayed silent for a moment but strode to me furiously and slapped me hard across my face. I cupped my cheeks, still in shock, while Bhabhi pulled him away from me. "MY KINGDOM? MY KINGDOM? I WILL SHOW YOU WHICH KINGDOM IS YOUR'S!!", he yelled and strode away. Bhabhi held my shoulders and inspected my hurt cheek while tears welled up in her eyes for me. 

He came back with a scroll and ink pot and sat on the couch and started writing something. I looked at Bhabhi who was equally clueless as me. He wrote the complete letter and called in an attendee, anger still evident in his voice. He stood up and walked away to their bedroom chamber and Bhabhi ran behind him. I heard her say something to calm him down but he shouted something back. I collapsed on the couch still not able to believe that my brother, my Adi Bhaiyya, who had never even playfully hit me all my life, had slapped me. He even said it would have been better if I had really died in the war. I sobbed in the physical and emotional pain that was in me but he came back and said, "Listen to me, here. I have decided your wedding with Rajkumar Jayanth of Jynanabhushani. The wedding will be held by the end of this month. Then you can go make your own little kingdom", Aparajitha Bhabhi stood in front of him, "Maharaj, you are angry and you are making a decision with just that in mind. This is Surabhi's life we are-", he cut her off before she could complete her words, "Not Surabhi, Aparajitha. She is some Pranahita now. Our Surabhi died in the war. We don't know who this woman is. So, let us get rid of her soon".

"Aditya", Bhabhi said making me look at her shocked, "you saw how Rajkumar Jayanth was when we were in Jynanabhushani. You are not serious about this. That boy can only think about alcohol and women all day. Don't spoil her life because you are angry with her. I will speak to her. I will make sure she understands that she is doing something wrong". I stood up and said, "I have done nothing wrong, Bhabhi. Did you not support Padmini Didi when she wanted to marry-"

"Surabhi, your brother knew Vallabh. We all knew him-"

"I know Bhargav. He literally saved my life, Bhabhi. I wouldn't have been standing here if he hadn't saved me from the torture I was going through"

"Still, Surabhi, understand your brother's point of view, dear. He is just scared what will happen to you in that kingdom when it's strength is not very talked about in Akhandadesh. Moreover, he is not royal by birth-"

"Was Jija ji a royal by birth? Wasn't his father a mere soldier in Vajrasiri's army? Today his son is the king of that land. Why don't you think we will live like that too?", I asked.

My brother spoke this time, "You are not saying anything else. I have sent a letter to the king of Jyananabhushani. We will get a reply soon and everything will happen as soon as possible. So, don't bother unpacking. Now get out of my chamber".

I nodded furiously, "My husband is Bhargav and him only. If you force me to do it, you will have to lose me again, Bhaiyya. But this time, you will not get me back!"

"Isn't that all you know? Running away? Go do it. We'll see in your Mantap who wins", he challenged. 

"Yeah, you will have my corpse by then. Marry it off to your alcoholic Prince!", I said and stormed off to my own chamber. 

"GET OUT, EVERYONE!", I ordered and closed the door behind me after all the attendees were gone. I laid on my bed and started crying loudly as I couldn't hold back any longer. I was already in a lot of pain because of Bhaiyya's words, but after his new decision, I did not know what to do anymore. I ran to my desk and started writing a letter to Bhargav. My tears dropped on the scroll but I did not stop writing until I made it sound really urgent. I got up and was about to send the letter off myself when Aparajitha Bhabhi, Roop Bhabhi and Padmini Didi walked to my chamber.