And in one night, my life changed completely. The man who tried to kill my father forcefully married me and captivated me.
One who is powerful and I'm lost in this new life that I never choose...
For the first time, morning in Chandel House is this quiet. Daata is recovering well. And i have accepted my fate. I will do anything, to protect my family. But I dare not step out of my room. The cocoon i have created myself, is the only thing giving me the comfort and silence to breathe.
"Maithili... come out... dear... you have not eaten anything since yesterday. Come out..." Ma says from outside. I didn't reply.
"Exactly... You should come out... After all a queen never shows her back." His familar voice send alert to every atom of my body. Hurrying to the out side, in fear. Found him standing there. The King himself.
"Greetings In-laws" he says sarcastically. Ma and Kanak, stand there. As scared, as me. FInding me, standing in the another direction. He scan me up and down. Sending shrivel in my bones. "I'm sure. My future wife must have tell you already, about the wedding. So I'm here today, to complete the invitation ceremony." Clapping his hands twice, he continues "These are some gifts from the groom side for the bride."
Servants placing many things in the room, on every table they could found. "Where are your manners? Greet the king" an aged man, says coming from the entrance. He is dressed like a minister. Almost around Daata's age. Kanak and I, quickly bow our heads, "Greeting, my king"
But, mother is standing still. Her expressions are unreadable. She kept looking at the minister. Some words escape her lips "Madhav.." stepping toward him, she stops at his words "Princess" he bow his head in curtsey. What? Ma, a princess? How?
Ma looks at me and kanak, seeing our confused faces. She gulps. Her anxiety is clear on her face. Hearing all the noises, Daata comes out of his room. "Madhav..." He also address the minister. Change in minister's expression didn't go unnoticed. Daata is weak, but the lack of strength, in his voice is not because of his injuries. "Vanraaj" minister addresses Daata back.
"What a delight! Meeting old friends, right?" king who was unnoticed is back in the light. "Anyway, we are here for the ceremony. And since you left me with no father, I have come with someone close to him,... and you too... Minister Madav, will perform the ceremony." saying with bitterd sarcasm to daata.
"There is no ceremony... there is no wedding..." daata declare in anger.
A light chuckle from the king, sarcastic. "You really think, you have a choice?"
"Maybe not me, but my daughter does, and she won't marry you. I will not let her."
"You really have a deathwish?" king spit in anger.
"My King" minister's worried words pull him back.
"You are right. Your daughter has the right to choose, and i didn't force her. I simply gave her a choice. To spare your life, she have to marry me. I have shown mercy which you don't deserve. She is smart, so she made the right choice, to save the life of her precious father."
Things are getting heated-up. So, I came forward and "By which, I'm sure of. I will marry you, my king." I don't have a choice. I have to marry him. I'm unaware of what future holds for me. But, I'll keep my words and protect the ones, I love.
Only then, minister notices my presence, "My chil... My queen, please get ready for the ceremony." he clears his throat.
"Madhav, how can you do that to her... with him?" Ma, who was doing nothing, but kept silient. Finally speak in disbelief. "You know it, he only want to marry my daughter, so he can suffer her, for the crimes we did. And that's not fair."
Her confrontation, hits me hard. What crime are they talking about?
"You once said, you'll love my kids as your own. You'll protect them with your life. And now you are handing over my daughter to him..." her voice is demanding an answer.
"Atleast you know you had comitted a crime? As his majesty said, its his mercy and your daughter made her choice. No one forced her. She is still free, to deny the marriage. But, if she backout of her words, so will be the king." With a blank expression minister says.
"I thought we were friends." Ma says with teary eyes.
"So did I. But, things are not always as we wish them to be. And you are right, we were friends, once." His answer is direct yet, hidding so much. Turning toward daata, he continues "People changes, time changes them. And some people changes the time."
"You don't even know what happened, madhav." Ma says with a trembling voice, eyes downcasted to ground. "He.."
"Tara.." daata cuts ma's words in middle. Tears start falling down her cheeks.
"All i know is you guys are guilty. But the sake of friendship we once had. I'm giving your daughter another chance" turning toward me "Do you wish to break this alliance? But, keep the consequences in your mind. Cause no guilty, go unpunished."
What I wish? I don't know. All I want is my family safe and happy as always. But, this not in my options anymore. "No, I will marry the king."
"Maithili..." both my parents, gasps. They ahve kept many secrets from me and kanak. A past which is now standing in front of me, ready to attack. And I can't even defend. I don't know what I'm fighting. But I do know what I'm fighting for. For my family, my parent, my Daata.
"Very well. Please go, and get ready." minister says. Handing me, a plate with clothes on them.
After the ceremony, "Your haldi for tomorrow's ceremony will be here around afternoon. I'll take your leave." Minister left.
King who is now my fiance. Walk toward me, "Just two more days. And, you'll be mine." He almost whispers. The obvious truth coming out of his mouth kick me in guts. "My queen" and he left without another word or look.
But, him addressing me as his queen, felt the most awful thing someone ever said to me. Tears I was holding back. Finally, find an escape due to the disgust I felt.
Till this morning I had only had one question, now I have many. But no answers.
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