Page 112 of Rudra Nandani: The Saga of Control And Seduction

“That belongs to me. And, I think I can decide on my assets. Whether to keep or to sell is in my hands,” she replied, and I gritted,“But, Nandani, you can—”

“Ranaji,” an attendant walked into our heated discussion, and we all looked at him. I gestured for him to continue.

Bowing, he informed us,“Everyone is waiting for the meeting in the courtroom.” As he finished, we all looked at each other.

Agastya began folding the scrolls, and Ranvijay nodded at me, standing up.“I think it's time,” I said, rising to my feet, and looked at Nandani.

“I’ll talk to you later,” I said, and she nodded curtly.

“All the best,” she muttered slowly. Ranvijay and Agastya had already left the hall.

Stepping forward, I gently kissed her forehead, holding her face. In her arms, I visibly relaxed, and my heart rate calmed down as Iwas anxious about the outcome.

Well, no matter how much we try, we can never completely rid ourselves of the nervousness that arises before the results, which often shape our actions. The fear of results sometimes hampers our confidence and performance. However, success or failure depends mainly on the process itself. And if we spend too much time thinking of the end, we lose focus on giving our best in the present.

I took a step away, and she gave a warm smile. I knew she was too worried about the outcomes, but she concealed it behind her neutral expression.

Turning around, I followed Agastya and Ranvijay and walked into the courtroom.

The attendants pushed the door open for us, and I stepped inside, taking a deep breath. My sight landed on everyone seated—gossiping, murmuring—suddenly stopping, and heads turned in my direction.

The soft thud of my heels against the marble floor echoed in the silent room as I marched in, with Agastya and Ranvijay close behind. The free end of my silk shawl, usually draped over my left shoulder, brushed against the floor with every step I took toward the throne.

Climbing the stairs, I turned to look at everyone before taking a seat. In a glance, I recognized every significant personality who needed to be present, and then I looked at Ranvijay.

“Please proceed with the hearing.”

bowing in respect, he said,“Ranaji, matdaan se poorv, hum ek baar punah navkrut niyamoan ka uccharaan sabhi ki upasthiti mein karna chaahenge,”(Ranaji, before the voting takes place, I would like to repeat the revised rules once again in everyone's presence.)

“Awashya,”(Sure.) I allowed him.

Facing everyone, he began reading the new regulations.

“Songarh se humein har maas jo senya sahaayata praapt hogi uske sthaan par hum wahaan jwaar va baajre ki poorti karenge. Cheeranjeevigarh se humaara anya anaajoan ka len-den rahega. Iske atirikt anya rajyoan se jo bhi vyapar hoga vo aawashyakta anusaar hoga, anayatha, jab aavashyakta padegi, tab hoga. Sabhi rajyoan aur Suryagarh ke madhya yudh ki stheeti uttapanna nahi hogi, aur yadi kisi aur rajya ke saath yudh hoga to sabhi rajya humein sainya bal va samarthan pradaan karenge. Suryagarh bhiaavashyakta padne par peeche nahi hatenge, iske atirikt, jin rajyoan ke saath niji pratastav hai, ve unke shaanti prastaav lekh me varnit hai,”(In return for the defence support we will receive from Songarh every month, we will supply them with barley and millet. With Cheeranjeevigarh, other food crops will be traded fairly. Also, trading with other states will be based on necessity, or when required. There will be no war scenario between Suryagarh and any of the allied states. If there is a warlike situation with an enemy kingdom, all the states will provide us with military support and assistance. Suryagarh too will not step back when needed. Except for these, other clauses are added to the respective contracts of each of the states for confidentiality reasons.)

When he was done, I looked at the kings seated with blank faces. The tension in the air was palpable, and the silence that followed was profound.

Ranvijay then announced,“Now, we should start the voting.” Just as he finished, one of the members abruptly rose from his seat.

“Wait,” Everyone was astonished by his intrusion, and he looked at me.

“Ranaji, we are all very well aware of the current situation of Suryagarh. But many of us are afraid to bring this into the light,” He said, taking a deep breath.

I scratched the nail of my forefinger at the side of my thumb as I listened to him further.

“We all heartily congratulate you on becoming the king. You surely are the most deserving one. Yet we, as kingdoms, are here, agreeing to help you in any warfare, right?” He asked, and I nodded.

“Yes, absolutely,” I answered.

“We all will agree to it, but on one condition,” he animated it for me with his hands.

I straightened myself and asked,“What condition?”

Raking his eyes at everyone in the hall once, he continued,“You see, Ranaji, we’re all the kings of small states. We do not hold much power. If in the future, in any way, a large kingdom attacks Suryagarh, they might destroy us too,”

Furrowing my eyebrows, I asked,“Kingdom like which?”

Rubbing his chin, he looked down for a brief moment and lifted his eyes back to look at me confidently, saying,“Kingdom like Mahabaleshgarh”

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