Pranayavijita || Indian Historical Romance

7. The Invader Problem

Veer sat by the river after her conversation with Rani Anvesha. The cool breeze coming off the water did little to soothe her turbulent thoughts. She tried to clear her mind, focusing on the calm flow of the river, letting Maharani Anvesha's words sink in. She was just beginning to find some semblance of peace when a voice interrupted her solitude.

"Ah! Here you are!" Veer turned around, startled. A group of women stood there, their colorful garments fluttering in the breeze. One of them stepped forward, a haughty smile on her lips. Veer recognized the mockery in her greeting immediately. "I'm Avantika. I believe I should come introduce myself to you," she said, her tone dripping with condescension.

Veer responded with a namaste in a civil fashion, determined to maintain her composure.

"I find it surprising that Rajkumar Ameya found you to marry first," commented the woman next to Avantika, her eyes narrowing with barely concealed disdain.

"It is unusual that women from your country cover their heads and faces. How come he chose you before even seeing you?" another woman added, her voice filled with scorn.

Mridula, one of Veer's loyal attendants, bristled at the insult and looked as if she was about to retort. But a sharp glance from Veer silenced her. Veer wouldn't stoop to their level by responding to their ridiculous comments. She also realized that almost no one in the Kalika Empire, other than the royal family, knew the true circumstances of her marriage. It was a sudden union by mistake, yet everyone believed that Ameyajit had decided to marry her on a whim. She was honestly thankful for that misconception; it saved her from further scrutiny.

"Perhaps he didn't need to see my face to decide," Veer answered politely, her voice steady.

The women exchanged glances, their faces reflecting a mixture of disbelief and jealousy. "Do you think you can hold his heart? I've been here for three years. I've seen how he looks smitten in love. That's not how he looks at you," one of the women, Annika, scoffed, her eyes flashing with malice.

"He doesn't love you either, Annika. How would you know?" another woman retorted sharply.

"He does. He told me so," Annika insisted, her voice rising in pitch.

The women began to argue amongst themselves, each one claiming that Ameyajit had confessed his love to them. Veer stood watching, a silent observer to their petty squabbles. As she listened to their bickering, she realized the truth in Maharani Anvesha's words. Not having Ameyajit's love was the least of her problems. She would have to deal with these women and their constant scheming, plotting, and infighting.

One of the women, emboldened by the others' presence, stepped forward. "We have all been known with the prince. You suddenly appear out of nowhere. No knowledge of our culture, our language, our rituals, or our lifestyle. You want me to believe that Rajkumar Ameyajit wasn't forced by you to marry?" Her voice dripped with accusation.

"What could he have seen in you?" another woman sneered, circling Veer like a predator. "You're not that pretty."

Another woman laughed derisively. "If he had truly been interested in you, he would be spending time with you rather than away partying."

Avantika, who had remained silent for a while, now stepped forward, staring Veer down with cold, calculating eyes. "You'd be a fool to believe you can keep him. Yesterday he was interested in Megha. Today, it is Annika. Tomorrow it could be you. The day after tomorrow, it will be someone else. He'll find someone new every other day, and you'll be forgotten by him. So, it's best for you to stay out of this and live in your own little world. Don't try to catch him. He is mine."

Veer took a deep breath, her mind racing. She knew she couldn't let these women intimidate her. She squared her shoulders and met Avantika's gaze with a calm, unwavering stare. "You're still here without a marriage, and I'm here married to him. Had he truly been yours, you would have been in my place with the Prince of Kalika Empire as your lawfully wedded husband." Veer replied, her tone cool and collected. She wasn't going to let a woman entertaining men insult her or push her into making a scene.