Page 78 of Rudra Nandani: The Saga of Control And Seduction

She was stunned momentarily, and what I feared the most happened.

“You stopped last night... because... You are forb…” Her eyes widened, and she audibly gasped, covering her mouth.

Her face was stricken with the flash of realisation. Tears shimmered in her eyes, and I shook my head in denial. She inhaled a sharp breath, crawling closer to me on her knees and held my hands.

“Rudra, please tell me it's not what I am thinking. You're not practising celibacy until the coronation, are you?” Her words faltered in an aggrieved tone, and she visibly swallowed the lump of distress.“Oh, wait... wa... wait! That is why you do not sleep in bed, you don't dine on the royal meals, you do not stay in the royal chamber, you do not let anyone do your things, you do not smoke, do not drink, you don’t hunt, you do not…” she turned breathless by the end of her revelations, and tears streamed down her eyes.

I closed my eyes, taking her into my arms.“Nandani,” I tried to calm her, but she broke into sobs.

“Rudra, do I even know you?” She pushed me away lightly and stood up to leave, but I stopped her, holding her wrist.

“Does this wedding mean anything to you?” she turned towards me, drawing back her hand.“Do I mean anything to you?” she asked, taking her steps back.“You don't even have any feelings for me,” she stated, and I stood up, trying to hold her.

“Nandani, it is not like that—”

“I, too, am forbidden to you,” she rambled to herself, holding her forehead.“I thought... I thought you had feelings for me, something at least,” she choked up on her tears.

“Nandani,” I went near her and was about to touch her, but she stopped me, showing her palm.

“Oh! Ranaji, let me remind you that you are forbidden from touching me,” she said, moving back.

“Murkh the hum, aapke bichaaye jaal mein phans gayein”(Such a fool I was, I fell right into your trap). She walked away, talking gibberish. I sucked in a sharp breath, fisting my hands, trying to cool myself and knelt on the floor, closing my eyes.

I knew she'd get utterly mad when she discovered the truth and wouldn't like it. She wouldn't have married me at any cost if she had known about it. What I didn't know was what to do anymore.

“Ranaji,” Suddenly, an attendant called me, and I looked at him.“Ranaji, guests have arrived,” he informed me, and I heaved a heavy sigh.

“Ask Prince Ranvijay and Prince Agastya to receive the guests and look after the arrangements for their stay in the palace. I'll meet them in the royal court,” I instructed calmly.

“Ji, Ranaji,” he bowed and went away. It was a significant day for the empire, as I was to sign a peace treaty and trade contracts with neighbouring states for the benefit of the people.

I stood up and walked out to get ready for the royal summit.

Once I was ready in a simple white kurta with a red overcoat, I saw Nandani before attending to the royal guests.

Walking into her bedroom, I called for her, but she wasn't there. I checked the dressing room, but she wasn't there either. Coming out, I asked an attendee,“Where is Ranisa?”

She bowed and answered without meeting my eyes,“She might be in the Royal Kitchen, Ranaji,”

I immediately marched towards the royal kitchen.

When I stepped in, I noticed the chaos—women grinding wheat in one corner, some crushing dry spices, some chopping vegetables. I raked my eyes around to spot my queen in the crowd of the staff, but I couldn't find her.

“EKAANT!”

I ordered, and everyone dispersed right away, except for one girl working on the stone flour mill. Striding in her direction, I looked at her, still grinding wheat.

Despite my squatting before her, she continued what she was doing without paying attention to me. She wasn't wearing any jewellery or wedding bangles: just simple green bangles and plain clothes.

“Nandani, don't overwork in anger. You’ll fall sick,” I tried to stop her, but she moved her hand even faster, filling her other hand with the grains to fill the pit. She remained silent, ignoring me like I wasn't there.

“Aeeee, Nandani,” I held the grinder’s handle and stopped it to catch her attention. She breathed heavily in anger and stood up.

“Suman, Reva, Jayanti…” She yelled all the names, and I watched some attendants enter the kitchen again.“Keep working; the guests must be served with the best food,” she said, crushing the spices.

I followed behind, and now I was eager to even talk to her, especially with everyone around.

“Nandani, please,” I pleaded in a low tone.

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