World away from my world

Part 18

"Is there anyway she did not understand what was said in there?" Samar asks Lina Bhai as Mia walked away stone-silent with a hundred questions in her eyes but none making out through her lips.

Lina Bhai hangs her head low. "She understands most of the language your highness. She just has difficulty speaking it."

"Please stay with her until I get back." Samar asks Lina Bhai.

"As you command, your highness."

Mia went up to her room and locked herself inside her. She realized how stupid she was. How naive she was to believe his words. She could not believe that she actually fell for him.

His every word was a lie.

His every step was planned.

Every touch, a cold selfish betrayal. 

Kadambari's words from the dinner feast ringed in her ears. 

"Your eyes are so sad, dear. It is unbearably painful to look at you. Men are like that. Especially around here. Wives are just child making machines. If you don't know that about men, it is hard to be in a marriage."

And then his words to Bibi Jaan. It all fell into place for her.

"......the combat he is going to announce will only allow contenders with a legal heir. A legal heir according to the law is a son. For who do you think he put that clause in? All the five princes have sons. I am the youngest and the only one without a son. You still want me to trust him, grandmother?"

"You bastard! You selfish lying son of a bitch!!!" she screamed in tears, crumbling down onto the floor against the door, banging her head against it. She wanted to hurt herself for being so stupid. For being so gullible to his words and charm.

~~~

"You have to eat something princess. You haven't had a sip of water since morning." Lina Bhai tried to feed her some juice. 

"Get lost!" Mia whispered.

"Abhay Baba came to see you, Princess. He left after waiting for you for a long time, your highness."

Mia did not speak. She did not even look at Lina Bhai. She was staring at the letter her parents wrote her from before, looking at it depressed.

It saddedned Lina Bhai to see the princess that way. Inspite of everything on her plate, Mia always tried to be cheerful. She talked about all sorts of things from climate to honeybees, from lemon cakes to freeing women prisoners. She knew the names of her daughters. Something that nobody in the Royal family knew inspite of her having worked there for the last three decades.

Although she did not understand what exactly Mia was sad about, she tried to sympathize with her."Can I ask why you are so upset, Princess?" Lina Bhai asks knowing fully well that she may not even get her attention.

"His royal highness, Prince of Archisando is here." Champa comes and announces.

Lina Bhai walks out hurriedly. The Prince looked at her with concern. "How is she doing?" he asks.

"She hasn't spoken or eaten since morning, your highness."

Samar looks inside her room and catches Mia looking out of her window, sad and depressed. "Leave the food and all of you leave." he tells them.

"As you command, your highness." they all leave closing the door behind.

Samar walks to her and stands in front of her. "Princess.." he tries to caress her face.