Page 138 of Rudra Nandani: The Saga of Control And Seduction

I didn’t know why, but a strange uneasiness settled in me. Still, I couldn’t avoid him—this was his kingdom.

“Rana Rudra Dev Singh,” he said with a wide smile, opening his arms for a hug. I walked up to him with a heavy heart and gave him a loose hug. He patted my back in affirmation, and I managed a weak smile.

“Happy Holi, Rudra,” he wished me.

“Happy Holi to you too, Rajaji.” Releasing the hug, I wished him back with a flat voice as he patted my shoulder.

We looked at each other, and honestly, I had no idea what to say or how to begin. And then, suddenly, he started speaking.

“Rudra, pehle to humaare madhya jo bhi hua un sabke vishay mein baat karne ka humein avasar hi nahi mila. Kintu ab hum chaahte hain ki hum dono kuch samay ke liye saath bethe, ek sasur or jawai ke bhaanti nahi apitu do Rajao ki tarah baat karein,”(Rudra, first of all, because of everything that happened in the last few months, we didn’t get enough time to talk. But now, I want us to spend some time together and talk about things, not as a son-in-law and father-in-law, but as two kings.) He said, and I nodded.

I didn’t exactly know what had changed between us, but something had. I stayed with these people for three months when I first came disguised as Abhinandan's friend. Despite knowing I was the son of Suryadev Singh, they welcomed me with open hearts, and for that, I have always been grateful to them.

“Ji, humein bhi aapse kuch baat karni hai,”(Sure, I too want to talk to you.) I spoke, and he gestured toward the outside of the chamber.

The three of us—Ranvijay, her father, and I—walked through the corridors, possibly towards a hall. That’s when my eyes caught Nandani yelling at Agastya, running behind him.

She was soaked, completely drenched in colour from head to toe, and charged toward us.

When Agastya hid behind her father for cover, she warned him to move aside. And before he could react, she flung a pot full of water straight at him, leaving her father dripping in colored water.

He scolded her lightly, but she tried to justify herself. And I just stood there watching them, sharing small laughs and chatter. I couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy at the warmth this family shared. I felt unlucky.

But even with that feeling, I was happy for her. She never said it, but I knew how much she missed them. I had seen it on her face countless times. And now, she looked more than happy, alive in a way I hadn't seen before.

But seeing her shed tears for her brother twisted something inside me. I knew I had wronged both Abhinandan and Nandani by punishing them for their parents' actions.

I was pulled from my thoughts when her father said,“You all must enjoy. Rudra and I have something to talk about.”

She gave a nod before I followed her father to the meeting hall.

Once we arrived, Rajaji said,“Please, have a seat.”

I sat beside Ranvijay and watched attendants come in carrying large platters of food, fruits, and juices.

“Have something, Rudra,” he said kindly.

I picked up a glass of juice and looked at him.“I want to apologise… for everything that happened at the wedding,” I said. He shook his head and smiled.

“Do not worry about that. What ends well is all well.” I returned a faint smile and took a sip of the juice. I wasn’t sure where tobegin.

But then, I noticed him standing, and I rose with him.

Walking closer, he stood before me, and I looked at his expression, which was turning a little emotional, as if something unspoken lingered between us.

Suddenly, the sound of anklet bells reached my ears, and I turned to see her mother entering the hall, a delicate veil drawn down to her nose.

She walked with quiet grace and came to stand beside him.

“Rudra, Maharani Abhishree aapse kuch baat karna chahti hai,”(Rudra, Queen Abhishree wishes to talk to you.) He said, and I nodded lightly.

“Ji,”

“Ranaji, isse poorv humein kabhi ye baat kehna aawashyak nahi laga, kintu ab aap keval Abhinandan ke mitra nahin hain humaare jawai bhi hai,”(Ranaji, until now, we never felt the need to say this, but you are no longer just Abhinandan's friend, you are our son-in-law now.) Her mother said, and my palms tightened around the glass.

“Please, I don’t want to talk about any of this. I love Nandani and that's the only thing that matters to me now,” I tried to say. But her parents joined their hands in front of me.

“Ranaji, aaj se bees varsh poorv jo bhi hua, hum nahi kahenge ki tab hum sahi the. Kintu kam se kam humaare mann ki shaanti ke liye hum batana chaahte hain ki kya hua tha. Kyunki hum nahi chahte ki humaare madhya kisi bhi anuchit dhaarna ke kaaran Nandani ko dukh pahuche,”(Rudra, we won’t say that we were right about what happened twenty years ago. But at least for our peace of mind, we want to tell you what really happened. Because we don’t want Nandani to be hurt because of any misunderstanding between us.) Her father spoke, and I drew a deep breath, blinking nervously. My heart sank deeper, and I didn’t know what to say or do.

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