RUDRADAMINI

Damini's holi plans

Damini POV -

The first light of dawn seeped through the curtains, painting the room in shades of pink and gold. I stirred in bed, the events of the previous night playing out in my mind like a feverish dream. The warmth of Rudra's embrace, the hunger in her eyes, her gentle whispers - it was all too real to be a figment of my imagination. But as the reality of the morning settled in, so did the coldness of the room. She was gone.

With a heavy sigh, I sat up, my eyes scanning the room for any trace of her. The floor was cold under my bare feet as I padded over to the balcony, the soft fabric of my gown billowing around me. The night had left a dewy chill in the air, and I wrapped my arms around myself, trying to ward off the emptiness that threatened to consume me.

The holi celebrations were to begin in just a few hours, and I clung to the thought of spending the festive day with Rudra. It would be a bittersweet farewell, a celebration filled with vibrant colors and the sweetness of her love, a stark contrast to the looming sorrow that awaited us when the festivities would end.

I knew I had to prepare for the day, to put on a brave face and celebrate with the same zest and joy as the others. For her, for the love we shared, and for the promise that she would return to me, unscathed and whole.

With a heavy heart, I slipped into my holi attire, the vibrant colors seeming to mock the bleakness I felt inside. As I stepped out of my chamber, Tara and Jiji were already waiting for me, their faces painted with forced smiles that couldn't quite hide the shadows of sorrow in their eyes.

Come on, Damini, Tara chirped, a little too brightly. Let's go to the courtyard. The festivities are about to begin.

Jiji nodded in agreement, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. Yes, we mustn't miss the first splash of color.

Their kindness only served to make my own pain more acute. I knew they were hurting too, feeling the weight of the impending separation just as heavily as I was. We walked together, our steps echoing through the corridors, the silence between us a deafening roar.

Are you okay? Tara whispered as we approached the crowded courtyard.

I nodded, my throat too tight to speak. I didn't want to ruin the joy of the day with my sorrow, so I painted on a smile and took a deep breath.

I'm fine, I lied, my voice barely above a murmur.

As we entered the courtyard, the cacophony of laughter and music hit me like a wall. Colorful powders filled the air, and the scent of sandalwood and gulaal was intoxicating. The sight of the vibrant hues and the sound of the festivities brought a brief spark of happiness, but it was quickly snuffed out by the reality of what was to come.

My eyes searched the sea of faces, looking for hers, and when I found her, my heart skipped a beat. Rudra stood tall, her entire strong muscular body dressed in a pure white angrakha kurta and white dhoti. The red cloth tied around her waist was the only pop of color against the stark white, the dagger sheathed at her side a stark reminder of the battles she would soon face.

Our gazes met across the crowded space, and for a moment, the world around us disappeared. It was just her and me, locked in an unspoken promise of love and longing. The noise of the festival seemed to fade away, and all I could hear was the thunderous pounding of my heart.

Rudra, my love.

I thought, my hand unconsciously reaching up to touch the spot on my neck where her lips had been just hours before. She gave me a small nod, her eyes filled with an intensity that made my knees wobble.