PALATINE'S STRUGGLE (COMPLETED)

11. WIVES

After 5 months....

In these five months, Siddharth, Abhishek and Nihar got married to different princesses from different kingdoms. Kings started preparing their army for war as per marriage's condition.
Nihar got married to Rajkumari Jannat.
Her elder sister Rajkumari Siddhi was married to Siddharth.
Rajkumari Shreya and Rajkumari Adrita, daughters of one king were married to Abhishek and Siddharth respectively.
Rajkumari Mahi and Rajkumari Advika both the sisters were married to Abhishek.
Rajkumari Shivanshi and Rajkumari Vanshika, daughters of one of the strongest kingdom were married to Siddharth.
Rajkumari Kajal and Rajkumari Prerna, daughter of one of the kingdom's having friendly relations with Mahamanyu Rajya was married to Siddharth.

Armymen were being trained for the war. All the kings who married their daughters in Mahamanyu Kingdom were preparing for war. All four brothers were doing proper practice to win this war at any cost.

Meanwhile inside the palace.

Vaishnavi's maids got her ready and she went in kitchen alongwith Mahi and Advika. "Vaishnavi didi hume to na aapke lie kbhi kbhi bohot dukh hota hai." said Mahi with fake sympathy. "Kyo?" asked Vaishnavi not paying much attention. "Ab dekhie na jis singhasan par aapka aur Yuvraj Abhishek ka adhikaar tha uspar Maharaj Siddharth aur Maharani Avneet bethi hai." said Advika. "Aur nhi to kya. Maharaj Abhishek bade hai par phir bhi singhasan unka nhi." said Advika supporting Mahi.

Vaishnavi smiled. "Adhikar kiska hai aur kiska nhi ye faisla humara nhi sawargiye (Late) pitashri ka tha. Aur jab wo nhi rhe to Mata Supriya ka. Mata Supriya dono bacho se behad prem karti hain. Apne bacho ke liye koi galat faisla nahin legi." said Vaishnavi politely. "Jo bhi ho kaha aapko singhasan par beth kar maharani ki tarah hukam chalane the aur kaha aap rasoighar mein khana bana rahi hai." taunted Mahi. "Dekho hamari kismat mein jo bhi gadhi thi hume mil gyi. Ab wo chahe Maharaj ki patni hona ho ya Yuvraj ki. Ab uspar beth rone se achha hai hum savikar karle aur apna kartavya pooran kare. Aur apne pati ka saath de." said Vaishnavi with smile

"Par jo bhi ho. Hume to aur bhi bura lagta hai ki Maharani Avneet ne aapki apki sakhi behn (real sister) hokar bhi wo singhasan savikaar kar lia. Ek baar bhi aapke baare mein nahin socha. Agar mein aur Mahi didi aap dono ki jagah hote to mein to avashya apni didi ke adhikaar ke baare mein sochti." said Advika trying to put oil in fire. Vaishnavi wiped a lonely tear that rolled listening to their taunts before they could notice.

"Usse poocha nhi tha ki use wo Maharani ka singhasan chahie ya nhi. Usse kewal zimmedari di gyi thi jo wo apna faraz samajh kr nibha rhi hai. Siddharth aur Avneet dono ka faraz tha ki sawargiye pitashri ki marityu ke pashchat Abhishek ki anupasthiti mein iss Rajya ki bhagdor ko sambhale. So unhone kia. Apni zimmedari se muh modna na to hume hamare mata pita ne yha sikhake beja tha. Aur na hi bachpan se yha kisine sikhaya hai. Aur mujhe apni behn par aaj bhi naaz hai ki wo apni uss zimedari se peeche nhi hati. Islie aap dono ko hum par kisi baat par daya krne ki awashayakta nhi hai. Aur rahi baat Abhishek ke adhikaro ki to yadhi devi maa unhe hi Maharaj banana chahti to unhe uss samay Rajya se bahar na jaane deti." explained Vaishnavi with a sugar coated smile.

Both Advika and Mahi got quite and continued their work.

Meanwhile Avneet was in her room sitting in front of mirror. Her maids were making her wear ornaments. She got ready and went outside. Kajal came there with aarti wali thali. "Ye lijie didi aapki Maharaj ki aarti ke lie thali tyaar hai." said Kajal. Avneet took thali smiling. They went to Siddharth's room. Avneet did his aarti and handed to one of the maids. Kajal handed Avneet the crown which she made him wear. Both touched his feet. He gave them blessings and left to meet his men to check if everything is alright in kingdom. Avneet and Kajal went in kitchen to help others.

The breakfast was ready and whole family was present. Suddenly Priya spoke up. "Siddharth bhaiya hum bhi aap sabke saath kal se abhiyaas ke lie chale? Aur Anu bhabhi bhi. Hamara bohot mann hai." said Priya. Surbhi glared her and make her shut. She made a sad face but got quite. "Hnn bhaiya. Hume bhi kal se le chalie. Hume bhi yudh mein aap logo ka saath dena hai." said Anushka smiling widely. Ridham awwed at her. "Ladkiya ghar ke andar hi achhi lagti hai. Aap rasoi ka kaam dekhe to aapke lie zyada behtar hoga." said Supriya coldly.

"Par humse nhi hota rasoyi ka kaam. Uss din bhi haath jal gia tha khana banate hue. Humse ghar ke kaam nhi hote matashri. Humse kewal yudh hoga." said Anushka with pout. Ridham's heart melted. Siddharth and Supriya were fuming in anger. "Humse zubaan na ladao. Maike walo ne koi kaam nhi sikhake beja. Chalo nahi kaam sikhaya kamse kam tameez to sikhate. Tumhari behne Sonavee aur Prisha bhi to saare kaam chup chap krti hai na. Aaj tak koi shikayat ki. Tumhe hi saari dikkat hai. Hume to ye bhi shakk hota hai tum unka khoon ho bhi ya nhi." shouted Supriya angrily. Anushka looked down with teary eyes.

"Hnn kuch nhi hota matt kar. Kam se kam iss rajya ko ek rajkumar hi dede. Par hume lagta iss ladki se to wo bhi nhi hoga." taunted Surbhi. "Dekhlo Smita Ridham to poora isika gulaam ho gia hai. Aur Priya. Wo bhi isike jaisi hoti ja rhi hai. Ab dekhlo. Dono bache hi iss ladki ne apne vash (control) mein kar lie hai. Bechari Smita ki to koi sunta hi nhi. Na rasoi sambhal hoti hai. Na ghar ke kaam. Aur na hi bache hote hai. Yudh par jana hai inhe ab. Poora ladka samajhti hai khudh ko. Koi to ladkio wala gun ho tujhme. Mahamanyu Rajya ki bahu hai ye." continued Surbhi.

"Bass naam mitti mein milado iss Rajya ka. Smita agar balai chahie to isko Priya ke aas paas matt ghoomne do. Ridham ka to waise bhi ab kuch nahi ho sakta." said Supriya giving death glares to Anushka who was quitely sobbing looking down. All sunabais were quite. "Par mata shri. Bhabhi ne galat kya kaha? Zaroori thoda hai ki hum ladkia hai to kewal rasoi hi sambhalengi. Hum yudh pe kyo nhi ja skte? Hume bhi bhayia ki tarah iss Rajya ki suraksha krni hai." said Priya.

"Bass bohot ho gia. Ek baar ma ne bola to aapko samajh mein nhi aata. Aapko rasoi ke kaam nhi krne matt kro. Hume usse matlab bhi nhi hai. Rajya ki suraksha kaise krni hai uske lie hum hai. Aapko keh dia aap iss baare mein koi baat nhi krengi matlab nhi krengi." shouted Siddharth angrily making everyone flinch. Priya got tears in her eyes and ran away to her room. Siddharth felt guilty for shouting on her.

"Ho gia nashta." said Supriya coldly getting up and went to her room. Surbhi and Smita also left. Siddharth also got up followed by other brothers. Anushka was sobbing by now. Sonavee and Prisha were consoling her. Ridham looked at her sadly and went behind his brothers unwillingly. Other sunbais started cleaning everything quitely looking at Anushka but didn't say anything.

Siddharth went to Priya's room. She was sitting on bed sobbing. Siddharth sighed and sat beside her. He kept his hand on her shoulder. She turned away. "Achha ab aap humse naraaz ho jaengi?" asked Siddharth politely. "Hume kshama kar dijie. Hum aap ke upar iss prakar nhi chillana chahte the." apologized Siddharth. Priya didn't look at him.

Siddharth held his ears. "Achha hum maante hai humse galati ho gyi. Aaj ke baad aapse kabhi bhi unchi awaaz mein baat nhi krenge. Theek hai?" apologized Siddharth. "Chhodo na. Apne bhayia se to gussa nhi ho. Hum maante hai apni galati. Ab jaane bhi do." said Siddharth. She looked at him once but turned away.

"Achha theek hai. To hum jae? Hmm? Hum sach mein ja rhe hai. Soch lo. Phir dobara nhi maafi mangege." said Siddharth. He got up and was about to leave but Priya stood up and hugged him tightly and started crying. Siddharth rubbed her back and kissed the top of her head. "Achha ab baas bhi kro. Aaj ke baad nhi daantenge." said Siddharth consoling her.

She got quite after few minutes. Siddharth cupped her face and kissed her forhead. "Ab naraaz to nhi ho?" asked Siddharth. She shooked her head.

Before they could talk more, a servant came to call him. Priya frowned. "Hum baad mein milte hai aapse." said Siddharth. Priya nodded. Siddharth left.

End of Chapter

Words- 1475 count.