❝"I refuse!", was her deafening scream. The temple full of people stood in silence. He watched her, taken aback at the audacity, but not out of his icy cold composure.
He took a step towards her.
"Step back! Step away-"
He yanked her by her wrist...
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Aviram :
I COULD feel years of ache and tears take the form of raw rage. I found myself wanting to simply clutch the woman by her wrist and throw her out of the palace.
Not only had she dared to show up now, after years, she had dared to touch the woman who was my wife.
"Really?! Aviram all of us know she is just a replacement—"
"Santosh!", I shouted. Santosh immediately jogged in from the other end of the corridor. "Escort her outside the palace and if she doesn't leave in peace, throw her out.", I stated coldly.
Anamika had not expected that. She very definitely had not expected it. She looked at me in shock. "Not even for Nayantara?", She asked in a soft whisper. Santosh walked down her her, his face firm. I knew he would have no trouble is pulling Anamika out.
I immediately looked away from her face. I looked at Devika.
She seemed to have zoned out.
Noticing my disinterest in her, Anamika walked right past me, towards the gate. Santosh followed her.
"Devika..", I said in a voice just above a whisper. She snapped out. She did not look at me. She simply turned and walked into the room.
I immediately followed her in. I shut the door behind me after stepping in.
"Devika.. I-I apologize for—"
"For what?!", She shouted at me. I paused, my heart paced wildly as she turned towards me. Her eyes were red. I had seen this helpless anger in them on the day I had married her. I had forced her into this marriage of convenience. The convinience was mine of course.
"Devika—"
She suddenly edged close to me. And caught hold of my shirt's collar. Looking straight into my eyes. It felt like touching the flame. I couldn't look into those pained eyes. The ashes of her only dream burned in them.
"You will apologise for what?!", She shouted as she pulled my collar. Our proximity was extremely less. It almost felt like fire had touched ice.
"You will apologise for marrying me! For your daughter humiliating me! For the way the Gurumaa I loved and adored reject me! For your horrible ex wife humiliating me!", She shouted.
She suddenly held my face and forced me to look at her.
"Aviram Raghuvanshi, you will look into my eyes!", She shouted. Despite the man of power that I was, I felt powerless before her. I did not find the will to fight her. I knew I had caused this.
She released my face and showed her hand. I could see the red marks of finger nails on them. Anamika had dug them in while pulling her out.
"Apologise for this! Won't you?! Apologise for the way your horrible daughter threw my ancestral ghungroos and shattered them!", She demanded.
She pushed me away and walked down to her suitcase. She opened the top chain and threw out things. Diaries, files, paper clippings.
She looked at me. Her face was red, tear smitten. Her voice broke as she said, "Those! Those are my certificates, my dreams, all at your feet..", she paused and then forced a smile, "Raja ji."
The words for glory had never stung me before.
She walked down to me. I watched her step over her Certificate of Honour. As if it was nothing. Her eyes suddenly turned hollow.
"What use am I of now? What am I to do without my art? I am no use to you too.. isn't it?", She asked softly. Hollow.
I felt a tear slide down my eye. I did not bother to wipe it. Her pain, her outburst was unbearably painful - even for a heartless man that I was.
"Oh! Wait! I just forgot!", She shouted as if she had hit Eureka. She suddenly held the top free end of her saree that was pinned to her shoulder. She removed the pin.
"Devika what are you doing?!", I asked finally finding the strength to question. "Why? I can still bear you a male heir.. I can still be of some use.. isn't it?", She whispered taking a step towards me.
I looked at her, my heart seemed to have found its way back into my chest. My heart ached watching her.
She was about to remove the front of her saree when I was forced to hold her hand, to prevent it. Her lips curved into an amused smile.
"Oh.. I see.. you want to do it yourself, don't you? Dominate over your woman. I understand Mister Raghuvanshi..", She said smiling. Her kajal had smeared below her eyes, her state was nothing like it had been a while back.
"Devika.. Please.", I whispered.
"That's what I am telling you.. please make me of some use.. I am ready to bear your child.. You be happy, my father will be happy.. and I will be the perfect woman.. a woman whose only aspiration is to be a mother. How dare the so called Queen dream of dancing?! How could she?!", She said laughing, almost a soul-less maniac laughter.
She had truly reached her breaking point.
And then she suddenly held her head, as if losing her consciousness. She fell into my arms. Almost involuntarily, I wrapped my arms around her. Holding her close. Feeling her warm breath on my chest.
"Make.. make me of some use..", she mumbled. I bent and lifted her in my arms. I took her to the bed and carefully lay her on it.
The fatigue had taken over her. She needed some rest.
I sat down right beside her. I suddenly felt her fingers on mine. As if to hold them. Forgetting all about my word, I placed my hand on hers, holding it.
I had damaged her enough.. She did not deserve any of this. And yet I found myself selfishly wanting her to stay. Her leaving a day ago had been okay, but ever since she returned - I found myself yearning for her.
No.. I could not let her go away from this palace..
I looked at my other hand. The palmist had predicted that I would be the King years ago, looking at it.
But probably he forgot to notice that I too had to go on exile.
•••
Main jaan ye vaar doon Har jeet bhi haar doon Keemat ho koi tujhe beinteha pyaar doon
