The Two Kingdoms (Completed)

35.

Happy Independence Day
India 🇮🇳🕊
Please read AN

Meera was sitting in the harem courtyard, teaching all the girls how to read and write.

They were already almost a month into learning and Meera into teaching, the holy month of Ramadan was coming to an end. Avantika's wish to educate herself had now become a wish coming true for almost 40 girls of the harem.

"Now the next questions for Fatima. What is four times four ?"

"Sixteen."

"Excellent." Meera said with a lot of pride.

"You girls have such sharp minds, I feel so proud of all of you." She smiled at them.
"We'll have a month end exam, I'll give you a few question which we have already discussed and I'm sure all of you will do well. Exams are not to judge you, they are an analysis of where we need to focus harder alright ?"

She heard a chorus of yes.
The class was dismissed and everyone returned back to their respective duties.
Hania had taken Avantika and her books and gone to place them back in their rooms.

Meera and Kanika had been discussing a lot since the past one month about Abhishek's increased visits to the harem, about the stolen glances, they had finally confronted him and made him spit out about the attraction he felt towards Avantika.
They had then told him about Avantika's past and Abhishek very confidently said that her past did not matter.

It was time to ask Avantika about her feelings.

"Avantika, what are your plans now. In a couple of months you'll be self sufficient, educated, self reliant what do you plan on doing then ? You can't be here forever, you can't waste your life like this right ?"

"Do you want me gone ?" Avantika asked in a small voice, her doe eyes had pooled up.

Meera laughed and ruffled her hair.
"No if it was up to me I'd keep you with me forever but you need to start afresh, a new life Avantika." Meera said and Avantika looked up at her with confusion.

"What I mean to say is, start your life again, properly this time, with consent. Don't you want to have someone to call your own, to have kids someday."

"I don't know Meera di, who would marry me ? You know I'm not just a divorcee but also someone who has dragged her husband to the court, wont they think that if I'm cable of doing it once what's to stop me from doing it again ?"

"Hey." Meera whipped the tears falling from Avantika's eyes. "Not everyone is like that Avantika. You are so beautiful inside out why won't someone love you ?"

"I don't think-."

"What if I were to say someone is already in love with you ?"

"I don't understand."

"Kanika and I spoke to Abhishek Bhaisa, he wants to marry you sweetheart." Meera said lifting Avantika face to meet her eyes.

"He knows about your past and he doesn't give a cent about it, he said he was happy that the women he fell for was so strong and independent and knew how to fight for herself and he would be the happiest man if you took him as your husband."

"I don't know Meera didi, I've never really thought about it. If you believe that he is the right person for me then I believe in your choice." She said

"Hey it's not about me, and I blindly trust him you know that, why don't you for once have a say in your life, make a decision for yourself." Meera suggested.

"Meera di you pulled me away from the hold of that demon, gave me a new life, my life is yours and whatever you choose for me I know it's going to the the best."