𝑰𝒍𝒍 𝑭𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒅 ✎

[32]

Vaidehi's pov

That night I expect Raghav to come to my room after dinner. So I tell Aditi to prepare me in his favourite ghagra set of mine. A light pink velvet blouse with brocade burgundy skirt. I don't put the duppata as I formally do over my head and instead let it rest over one shoulder and wear my hair down loose.

I missed him and I know he did too, so I want to give him a perfect night of distraction. Aditi shoots me a wink before she leaves me alone to wait in my quarters. I don't expect to wait long, but when he doesn't arrive even after twenty minutes, I busy myself reading one of my history books.

When the clock ticks nine, and there is still no sign of him, anticipation builds in my stomach with each passing second. My eyes watch the doors expectantly. And when another few long minutes pass and he doesn't show up, my anticipation and patience turns into annoyance and anger. Why is he not here yet? What is he even doing so late? Where is he?

I decide to take matters into my own hands. Braiding my hair and setting my dupatta over my head, I make my way to his quarters. But when I reach it, I am informed by the guards outside that he is not in his quarters.

"Where is he then?" I ask. The guard shakes his head telling me that he doesn't know.

As I walk back to my quarters, my head is filled with anger. How dare he go MIA on me? That is just not fair. I was waiting for him, I dolled up for him only for him to disregard me. Seething with a hint of sadness and mostly anger I go to sleep. But I don't change my outfit, thanks to misplaced hope that he will come later into the night.

____________

I wake up alone in my bed that morning. Definitely not what I expected. I had thought that Raghav would come and cuddle upto me in the night after he is done with whatever keeping him busy.

The knowledge that he didn't, is like a cold bucket of water over me. So I get ready at lighting speed, I hurry my maids so much that they are probably annoyed of my behaviour. But I have a one track mind right now. And today I have my lessons from six in the morning, all the more important for me to catch hold of Raghav before that.

"He didn't come here the entire night, Rajkumari ji. " I am informed by the same guard I met in the night. That is news to me.

If he didn't come to my quarters and he didn’t go to his own then where is he?
I don't get long to figure out the answer because six rolls around and my guruji makes her appearance. I attend my lessons begrudgingly and distracted. And today when she passes her indirect taunt to me, I do not ignore her with a smile and instead frown at her face. My mother has taught me better than to snap at a teacher so I do not do that but frowning at her is pretty disrespectful too and she doesnt miss that. I imagine she will complain to Raghav's mother about it. I couldn't care less.

When shd finally wraps up her lesson, I waste no time in going to my father in law's study room, where finally I see Raghavendra's face. He is and his father are going over something with the treasury incharge and all of them turn to look at me surprise when I waltz in.

The comfort that washes over me after spotting Raghav is short lived when the other three faces register in my head. I did not think this through, I realise.
"Sorry, ummm...I did not mean to interrupt. It was nothing important, I will come by later." I stutter over my explanation.

"Its okay, Vaidehi. You can tell us now." My father in law kindly replies, his face smiling. I shake my head and enter the office to take his blessings.
"I'll come later." I insist. He agrees this time. With one last smile at him and folding my hands at the treasury in charges, I get out of the room. I try to catch Raghav's eye one last time before I leave but he doesn't meet my eye.
Weird.