Jogini : A fight for honour

Chp 17:- Inching Closer

    Maithali tossed from left to right over the bed but moaned in her sleep due to pain in her right shoulder...

She narrowed her eyes opening them and gasped seeing Kumar Amrendra sitting beside her. She immediately sat up and rubbed her eyes and stared at him.

"Subhodayam." He smiled at her.

"Subhodayam..." She mumbled and yawned.

"Did I wake you up?" He asked.

She looked out of the window and frowned "Hasn't the sun risen?"

"No." He shook his head.

"What are you doing here?" She asked suspiciously.

"My palace," He shrugged "I can go and come anywhere."

"Yes," She agreed, "but you cannot enter a woman's room without permission."

He grinned at her and asked, "Are you feeling better ?"

"Hmm...." She nodded with a smile.

She rubbed her arms to warm herself and looked out of the window once more to check if there was any sign of sunrise.

Kumar Amrendra gently put his shawl on her.

Looking up at him in surprise she spoke up, "I didn't need...."

"Your feeling cold, wear it." He smiled at her.

She nodded and whispered a "Dhanyavadalu!"

They looked out of the window in silence yet the silence seemed to fill every emptiness between them.

He broke the prolonged silence by saying, "You know you are an inspiration for all the women."

She chuckled a little "Inspiration!"

"Yes. I'm not joking." He replied sounding serious.

"Why do you think so?"

"You are the most amazing woman I've ever encountered."

His face had turned a soft pink when he said that. Maithali inhaled deeply and turned her head to the side, so that Kumar Amarendra couldn't see her tomato red cheeks.

"I'm not lying." He shook his head in smile.

She shook her head and continued looking out of the window.

"You know," He began "you are brave,you are educated, you are an awesome dancer, you are bea..."

"Kumar Amrendra, kindly stop
flattering me." She blushed a bit.

He leaned closer and asked "Does this sound like flattery?"

"Obviously." She shrugged.

"Because no one's told you this before?"

"Many have told me that, that's why it sounds flattery." She replied.

"Something new? Which I haven't heard.."

"Anybody who says it is new." He replied smartly.

"True." She nodded without turning to him. "By the way," She began turning towards him "why are you here?"

"Just came to see if you alright." He shrugged.

She raised her brows and smirked "I am capable of taking care of myself."

"I know that." He assured, "But when you are here, injured you are my responsibility."

"The people of Aitareya Bhramana are your responsibility." She corrected.