RUDRADAMINI

The night before separation

Saudamini POV -

Kritika, kya kar rahi ho?? I asked Kritika as she tugged me away from the rest of the group.

Jiji's wedding was done and after the post wedding rituals, she was escorted to her bridal room for the first night.

All along the way, Jiji and my friends, along with Kritika were keeping her company in her room, until Jijaji arrived. After a while, when Jijaji did come, he had to endure all the teasing from everyone. His siblings, including Kunwarisa was with him.

He was not let in for a long time. After a lot of begging, appeasement and promises of lavish gifts, he was let in to the privacy with his wife. I was so involved with everything else that I hadn't noticed when she had slipped away from the rest of the group.

I got sad. This was going to be my last night here and I wanted to spend some time with her, but she was no where to be found. I was lost in these thoughts when I felt Kritika tugging at my arms, dragging me hurriedly towards my chamber.

Kritika....itni sheeghrata kis baat ki kar rahi ho? I asked exasperated as she shoved me into the room and closed the doors.

Aap ayiye toh, Rajkumarisa, she said as she picked out a white cotton lehenga and choli I usually wore at night. She seemed to be in a big rush, confusing me even more.

She led me to the mirror stand and removed all the heavy jewelry off my body and handed me the lehenga choli.

Jaldi se kapde badal lijiye, jayiye, she urged me into the changing room.

Par.... I turned around to question her but she seemed to be in a hurry

You'll know in a while Rajkumarisa, please go change and come fast, she begged frantically.

I nodded and changed into the white lehenga choli and freshened up and washed my face. My cheeks had a permanent blush in them now a days, all thanks to Rudra. The moment I thought that, I got sad, at the prospect of going away from her tomorrow.

Rajkumarisa.....are you done? I heard Kritika's voice from outside.

Coming!! I walked out in a hurry, as I unbraided my hair, letting the luscious locks fall over all my back.

I picked up the dupatta lying on the bed only to find Kritika tying the white bedsheets together into one long rope. She was confusing me now.

What was she up to?

Kritika, tell me now, what are you doing? I asked holding her forearm.

She walked into the balcony and tied one end of the rope to the grill on the balcony and the launched the other end of the rope, and it cascaded down the balcony.

I walked out to the balcony and Kritika finally breathed a sigh of relief, seemingly having completed a task. Kritika......I began but she cut me off

Rajkumarisa, have patience, you'll know in a moment, she said with a smug smile. She was getting irritating now. I was about to reprimand her when I heard a horse neigh.

It seemed to come from right below the balcony of my room. Kritika's eyes lit up and I leaned over the balcony only to behold the sight below.

Rudra! My heart skipped a beat. There she was, the love of my life, dressed in her trademark white angrakha kurta and dhoti, sitting majestically on her stallion, Devdatta. Her smile was as smug as the one that played on Kritika's face. It all made sense now. This was why she had vanished from Jijaji's room, and why Kritika was in such a hurry to get me here.