AADRIKA : The writer of the story

Chapter 32 : Fear

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Aadrika sat in her luxurious chamber, surrounded by the grandeur of Indraprastha, but tonight, she felt trapped in a different kind of cage—one woven from whispers and rumors. It had been three months since she had become Queen, since she had married Abhiraj. Three months of dutifully attending to the responsibilities of the throne, ensuring the palace ran with clockwork precision. But today, as she sat by the window, her fingers trailing across the fabric of her dress, something felt off. The servants were whispering, and she could sense that the talk was about her—something unsettling, something important.

The evening sun had dipped behind the horizon, casting a soft glow over the marble floors, when Diya entered with a tray of tea.

"Diya," Aadrika's voice was calm, though her mind was already buzzing with suspicion, "what's the latest news you've heard in the palace?"

Diya hesitated, a rare moment of uncertainty crossing her face. Aadrika knew this meant something was truly amiss. Diya rarely faltered in her loyalty or her trust.

"It's... nothing important, Your Highness," Diya replied, her eyes betraying her discomfort as she placed the tray on the table near Aadrika.

"Nothing important?" Aadrika arched a brow, not fooled by Diya’s attempt to downplay whatever she had learned. "If it was not important, you wouldn’t hesitate to tell me. Now, tell me. I want to know."

Diya bit her lip, unsure how to phrase her words. "It's just... the servants, they’ve been talking, Your Highness. About you and the King."

Aadrika’s chest tightened slightly. "What about us?" Her voice remained steady, though inside, she braced herself for whatever was coming.

Diya shifted uncomfortably. "They... they think you and His Majesty are not close, that... that you haven't spent much time together as a couple should."

Aadrika blinked, momentarily confused. "Not close? What do they mean by that?"

"They're speculating, my lady. About why you and the King haven't been together... intimately," Diya said quietly, her words clearly making her uncomfortable.

Aadrika’s breath hitched, her mind flashing back to the gossip of the court. Intimate. The word lingered like a dark cloud over her, wrapping itself around her throat. "Is that all?" she asked, her voice now barely above a whisper.

Diya hesitated again, before shaking her head. "They’re also talking about... an heir. They’re wondering why there hasn’t been news of one. Some even wonder if there’s... a problem."

Aadrika felt the ground shift beneath her. Of course. This was the ultimate duty of a Queen—to provide an heir. But no one knew her truth, no one knew what kept her awake at night, what haunted her from her past. No one knew the depth of her fear.

"Thank you, Diya," Aadrika said softly, her gaze distant as her mind raced. She nodded, dismissing her maid with a gentle wave. Diya bowed and left, closing the door behind her.

After dismissing Diya, the heavy wooden doors closed with a soft thud, and the silence that followed was suffocating. Aadrika stood motionless in the center of her chamber, her hands resting on the smooth, cold marble of the windowsill. Her heart pounded in her chest, louder than the soft evening breeze rustling through the trees outside. The whispers, the quiet rumors that had been spreading through the palace, were now all she could hear.