Page 80 of Rudra Nandani: The Saga of Control And Seduction

Holding the huge curry bowl, I entered the dining hall with the other ladies.

All the guests were seated on floor cushions, their legs crossed, and wooden bajots placed before them for serving food. Each of them was busy interacting and talking.

With my face covered by the veil, I could see him talking to Ranvijay.

Perhaps the sound of our anklets caught their attention because then Agastya announced,“Lunch is here.” The flavorful aroma of food was probably so imminent that it brought a smile to everyone's face.

“Ranaji, yadi aapki aagyaa ho to kya hum bhojan parosein?”(Ranaji, if you allow, may we serve food?) An attendee, with her head bowed down, asked.

“Ji awashya.”(Yes, sure.) The attendees dispersed and started serving food to each guest individually. Like every other attendee, I, too, began serving theGattecurry.

As I walked in his direction, I felt a weird tension rising between us. His eyes were pinned on my every move.

The room was hushed except for the clattering of the ladles and bowls, which suddenly made me conscious. The intensity of his gaze on me caused a significant spike in my heart rate, making the hair on the back of my neck stand up.

“What are you doing here?” he muttered, but I chose not to answer and continued serving the curry. Suddenly, he held my wrist, and I stopped, inhaling a deep breath.

“Nandani, this isn't your place,” he gritted in a low tone, and I tried to free my hand from his grip without anyone's notice.“Leave right now,” he ordered.

“No, I'm a commoner now,” I whispered in reply.“I, too, have given up on the nobility and all kinds of pleasures,”

The scowl on his forehead clearly indicated that he didn’t like my words or actions.

“Leave, Nandani,” I pulled my wrist back from his hold and said,“No.”

I continued serving the food, and once I finished, I moved to a corner to stand with the ladies. He gestured to start the meal, andeveryone began eating.

My eyes were fixated on him, sitting rigidly, hands fisted tightly on his knees.

He didn't touch the food, and I could tell just by his expressions that he didn’t approve of any of it—me serving like an attendant. His anger was evident on his face.

“Bhaisa, what happened? Why aren't you eating?” Ranvijay asked him, and he replied with a smile,“I’m fasting today.” Ranvijay seemed convinced, but I knew better.

First, he was sacrificing everything for the sake of the Kingdom, and now he wasn't even eating. I had no clue when he had been practising celibacy and why.

When exactly did he start practising that? After our marriage? But he was living like a commoner ever since I knew him.

Practising celibacy is depriving oneself of any pleasure, either sexual or from everyday life. And I didn't want him to deny himself the enjoyment of these riches and lead a life like a commoner.

He was a king now, and for the well-being of our kingdom, it was only right for him to take care of himself. He couldn’t just maintain a strict diet and suffer and sacrifice.

I looked at him, still not touching the food. I couldn't take it anymore, so I rushed out of the dining hall. The more I tried to get closer to him, the more he pushed me away.

As I recalled the past, I wondered if he willfully kept a distance from me. Thinking of it, I remembered how he never touched me before that night, and how he never got seduced by me, not once. He didn't love me.

It meant he was right when he said that I forced him to marry me. He would've let me marry any man if not for his uncle.

A lone tear trickled down my cheek as it struck me that I had misread everything and that he felt nothing for me. He never had. I thought he liked me, but then I found he married me to take revenge on the old king.

I returned to my chamber and let the tears flow freely from my eyes.

“Nandani,” I immediately dabbed away my tears when a familiar voice suddenly caught my ear. I stood up, looking at Badi Maasa's daughter-in-law entering the chamber.

“Jiji42,” I smiled immediately, looking at her as she held Hridaan.

“How are you, Nandani?” She asked.

Taking Hridaan from her hands, I sat on the couch.“Now I’m happy,” I playfully answered, tickling him.

---