Page 69 of Rudra Nandani: The Saga of Control And Seduction

“Rudra,” she stood up, calling him back. There was something in her voice that didn't sit well with me. It gave me bad vibes. I couldn't understand what my father saw in her.

He bent forward to touch her feet, and she gently placed her hand on his head.

Ewww. Just seeing her touching my husband filled me with disgust.

She turned her eyes in my direction.“Who is she?” Parading, I joined my palms in front of her.

“Pranaam, Maasiji. I’m Nandani,” she blinked at me as if waiting for me to touch her feet. Under no circumstances would I have bowed in front of someone like her.

“Maasimaa, she is Nandani, my wife,” Rudra answered, and she looked at him, furrowing her brows.“Wife?” she gaped at him, and he nodded.

“Yes, I'm sorry, but our wedding happened under compromising circumstances,” She smiled and looked at me.

“Nandani, who?” she asked, scanning my face.

“Nandani, Princess of Mahabaleshgarh, Daughter of Rajvardhan and Abhishree Mahabalesh and now Queen of Suryagarh,” I saidwith a wide smile, and she turned her gaze down, as if trying to recall something from her memories.

And the moment she did, her face turned pale and her eyes widened.“She is our enemy, Rudra.” She wobbled in a higher pitch, pointing her finger at me.“Do you not remember what her parents did to your father?” She said, looking at him, and I glowered at her.

“Maasiji, you seem to know so much about my parents. How? Where were you when Rudra's father died?” I retorted.

“Nandani,” he suddenly warned me in an authoritative tone and gulped my anger down to calm myself.“Watch your words,” I lowered my gaze.

“Kshama kijiyega Ranaji, kintu jis prakaar aap apne mata-pita ke viruddh kuch anuchit nahi sun sakte, usi prakaar hum bhi apne mata-pita ke viruddh kuch nahi sun sakte,”(I apologise, Ranaji, but just as you cannot hear anything against your parents, I too cannot bear to hear anything against my parents.) I said, and he looked at her.

“Maasimaa, she isn't our enemy; her parents are.” Her face changed at the very moment, as if she were taken aback by what he had just said.“It must have been a long journey; you should rest,” He said, and she nodded distractedly.

“Of course, but I'd like to talk to you later,” He nodded, and she left from there.

He looked at me and, arching his brow, gestured at what had just happened.

“She was my father's mistress. She tried to break their marriage.” I glared at the exit, and he inhaled sharply.

“Shut up, Nandani. My mother, too, was my father's mistress. Additionally, you should not disrespect her in that manner. They are humans, we are humans,” He said, emphasising 'we'.

I instantly regretted what I had said. He was the son of a slave mother. I shouldn't have said that.“I am sorry, I'm sorry, please. I did not mean that,” I said, walking closer to him.

He abruptly strode away, saying,“I have some work,” I gritted, fisting my hands when he left and exhaled heavily.

I cannot expose her, so allegedly, when he has such blind faith in her, and is emotionally attached to her like that. Next time, I'd have to be clever with my words in front of her and him.

I thought about it and came back to my chamber to look afterHridhaan. But he was asleep, and Suman was already looking after him. I sat on the couch and started pondering things.

He was still after my family, even after our marriage. For him, they still were culprits. But it was not his fault. It was all Chandramukhi, his dearest Maasimaa, who must have kept the truth from him.

Later, an attendee informed me of Badimaa’s arrival in my chamber. I immediately went to the guest chamber to meet her.

“Badimaa, you should have called me,” I said, going to her, and she gave me a tender smile.

“I was just strolling around and then came to see you. Please sit,” I said, sitting beside her on the couch and smiling.

“How are you feeling now?” I asked her politely.

“I am feeling better. Now, I can die in peace,” she said, and I gulped, not understanding what she was getting at.“When all my sons were martyred in the war, my hope died because my husband was no good—as a husband, as a ruler, as a man. I was worried about our kingdom and my daughters-in-law. But, now I believe, under Rudra’s wing, our kingdom will be managed fairly and squarely,” she briefed her concerns.

“Your daughters-in-law, where are they?” I asked.

“They've paid a visit to their maternal home. Will be back by evening today,” she informed me.

---