The Royal Betrayal

Hurt

"Bacha hai wo ." Simmi Bhalla, cried/shouted to her husband.
(He is still a kid.)

"Agar ladiyoki tara nahi pala hota na apne, to aaj kahi yudh lad rahe hote. Aur jitte bhi." Param shouted back.
(If you had not raised him like a girl, he would be fighting a war now, and wining too.)

He was already frustated by his father's demands and the only person who could ease him is doing no better.

"Mat buliyega, aaj bhi tawar bhaji haar the hai aap hamse." She replied in some what defensive tone "Aur yesa to nahi hai ki uunhe hamne kuch nahi sikaya, bas dur rakha yudh se. Bae hamare bhi kuch lagte hai. 14 saal se dever nahi bete ki tara, bada kiya hai humne."
(Don't forget, today also I defeat you on sword-fighting. Its not like I havent taught him anything, only kept him far from the war. He has relation with me too. I have raised him like my own son not brother-in-law, for 14 yrs.)

"Tho kyu rakha hai dur? Jane kyu nahi deti unhe yudh mei?" Param shouted with rage "Kabhi kabhi to lagta hai, wo sab sach hai. Aap Raman ko in sabse dur rakhti he ta ki......" he muttered the last part to himself.
(So why did you keep him away? Why dont you let him in wars? Sometimes I think they are right. You keep Raman away so that....)

"Ta ki...?" Simmi asked.
(So that...?)

"Ki hamare bache ko singhasan miljaye." Param shouted before he could stop.
(So that our children get the throne.)

Simmi gasped not beleiving he said that. Param face plamed himself, kicking, slapping many times mentally.

He shook his face telling he didnt mean it. He moved toward her when she dropped on the bed, numbed.

"I am sorry, I am sorry,..." Param kept muttering. But she didn't ran her fingers on his scalp like other days.

He slept on her lap only muttering how sry he was and didnt mean anything.

*****

Simmi hurriedly shushed her 10 month baby girl on her arms. Drapping her sawl tightly around herself. She roamed her eyes around the palace.

Hoping the shift changing of guards is enough time for her to flew away from palace, she was about to move ahead. She gasped feeling her saree being pulled.

Determind eyes to not backoff, let the accumulated tears to flow non-stop seeing 16 yr old Raman holding it.

"Kaha jaa rahi thi aap, hame chodke?" Raman asked, hurt clearly visible in his tone.
(Where were you going, leaving me?)

"Kahi bhi toh nahi" She caressed his face lovingly and asked him to return back (Nowhere.)

"Hum nahi jaayenge kahi bhi aapko xodke. Chaliyena andar, bohot need aa rahi hai." Raman said rubbing his eyes.
(I wont go anywhere leaving you. Lets inside, I am very sleeply.)