31. STEALING LOOKS.
Siya ~
As I got back to the bedroom, I indeed found a dress lying there, on the bed but along with it, there was one more, like an option for me to choose.
" I know he thinks that I am going to wear the dress but lets surprise you Arjun. I won't be Siya if I am anything but unpredictable." I couldn't hold my grin off and picked the absolutely gorgeous purple net saree and made my way to Preeti bhabhi's room to ask for help.
" Of course Siya! Samarth, get out." She kicked Samarth bhai out and we two laughed at his outraged face.
" Arjun bhai will not as much as want to blink once when you come in front of him." She complimented me and I found a blush creeping my cheeks and I shook my head in a no.
Siya's Look ~
" By the way, where are you both going?" She asked and I shrugged in slight annoyance at my own unawareness.
" He won't tell me bhabhi. That's totally not fairr." I sang, standing up and she laughed.
" That's cute Siya, come on. At least he is an old-school romantic at heart because in your relationship, if everything is left on you, I'm sure there would be no romance in your marriage at all." She mocked me and I had enough self-respect in me to not contradict the truth but I chose not to dignify her accusation with a verbal response.
" By the way, where is that witch? Haven't seen her all day." I asked Bhabhi, referring to Vani and she rolled her eyes at her name.
" Don't insult witches Siya. Besides, I have no idea. I hope she falls into the well or something. At least that way we can be rid of her. I don't know what mom was thinking, asking them to stay right here in the Palace." Bhabhi grimaced and we sighed.
" I will tell you why." It was mom's voice right from the doorway and we both suddenly turned around to look at her.
" I am sorry mom, I didn't mean to question your...." Preeti bhabhi started but was cut off by mom.
" I have been worried that what had gotten into you two that you did not come to question my action yet, specially you Siya." She said and walked to where the two of us were.
" I didn't know that I could question you." I slowly said in the meekest voice possible and her eyes softened a bit as she looked at me.
" Of course you could Siya. I wanted you to and I want the two of you to know that I hate Vani as much as you both do, perhaps even more for what she did to my Arjun and I am equally mad at Amar but as the saying goes, keep your friends closer and enemies, closer." She said, taking both my hands in hers and we sat on the couch. Preeti bhabhi taking the opposite side.
" What do you mean mom?" Bhabhi then asked, voicing our doubts to her.
" Ever since they have started living here, I have them on surveillance. There are hidden microphones in their room and I know it is an invasion of privacy and law but I don't care. They are trying to mess with this family, our family and that's not something I am okay with but I also don't want to drag Ritesh, Arjun and Samarth into this. They already have work to deal with and I believe that we ladies can easily clean the house's dirt in a much more better and efficient manner." Mom said and she had a playful glint in her voice.
After hearing about the microphones part, Bhabhi and I gasped in shock.
" Mom? Microphone? If they find out....." I didn't know what to say.
" Let them. They wouldn't be able to do anything about it. This is all a power-play for them and it's time to let them know who their Queen is. Siya, you are Queen in every possible manner but one. The public needs a coronation and we give them one. That's how Vani will be shown her actual place. Will you please go through with it?" Mom asked in a pleading tone, leaving me stunned for a minute.
" Umm....coronation? Isn't that excessive mom?" I genuinely couldn't digest that it was still a ritual!
" Not at all Siya. This is the perfect opportunity to show Vani that no matter what, you are the Queen. What she thinks does not matter jack shit, politely." Preeti bhabhi agreed with mom as they gave each other an understanding nod.
" Well...I guess this can't do any harm." I finally muttered after taking a minute, or ten, I wasn't really sure.
" No." Mom gave me an encouraging smile which I somehow found myself returning.
" Okay okay okay. We'll talk about the rest of it later. Siya, don't keep Arjun waiting now!" Bhabhi suddenly changed the topic as we stood and she literally pushed me out of the door, giggling and I heard mom laugh too as I walked away in embarrassment.
I was actually feeling happy till I came face-to-face with her, yet again.
" Hello Your Highness, plans?" She tried to mock me and had an evil smile playing on her lips with the same evil glint in her eyes and I rolled my eyes.
" I do, as a matter of fact. You see, my life isn't as sad is yours, honey. I don't have to depend for entertainment on anyone. My husband keeps me on my toes." I replied, giving her an overly sweet, diabetic smile and she almost visibly cringed before composing herself again.
" Well well well, your husband is a boring man, Siya. He really doesn't know how to keep a woman entertained. I know it, well, because of experience, you see." She flared her nose and I couldn't help but laugh at her.
" Honey I can vouch for myself and I'd like to tell you that there hasn't been one dull day in my life since my marriage. He, well....let's just say that your ex-husband and my husband are very, very different people and leave it at that. Also, just a reminder, the dinner for freeloaders has begun. Why don't you and your Amar and go eat?" I ended our conversation with another smile and walked away, without giving her a chance to reply back. If there was absolutely any doubt about going through the coronation in my mind, it was all gone now.
I had just taken another turn in one of the endless pathways in the Palace when I suddenly came face-to-face with Arjun and immediately halted my steps.
" Oh my God you scared me half to death Ranaji!" I accused him, narrowing my eyes at him and kept a hand on my chest to calm my racing heart down but the side of his lips were just slightly twisted in amusement.
" So Mrs. Siya Arjun Singh Rajvanshi, there hasn't been a dull day in your life ever since you married me now, is it?" He asked and his hands were wrapped around my waist as he pulled me towards him and my eyes widened before they narrowed at him.
" You were listening." I accused.
" I happened to be walking in my palace when I overheard my wife talk. For that, I cannot be accused, Little Flower." He raised an eyebrow and I gave him a stern, annoyed look.
" Who happened to be talking to your ex-wife. An ex-wife, this current wife was kept in dark about." I snapped, breaking free of his hold and started to march away from him and suddenly, I found tears forming in my eyes as I stormed away from Arjun who was following me.
" Siya....please, stop." I heard him and I knew that I was creating a scene in front of the Palace staff but at the moment, I couldn't care less. I was suddenly very angry and more than eighty percent of it had to do with the fact that Vani had been on these dates with Arjun before me and she had being in my place or now, I was in her place. Everything was messed up and even though I had told everyone that I was moving on, this still hurt, things still hurt.
" Siya, listen to me, please." Arjun had managed to get a hold on me and by my upper arms and when I looked up, I saw guilt in his eyes as he slowly dropped his hands down my waist and before I knew it, he was on both his knees.
" I am sorry for everything you have been going through Siya. Every single thing and even though I deserve this, please don't walk away from me. It hurts. It physically hurts." He had zero fucks to give about the Palace staff watching him, their King, on his knees in front of me, grovelling.
" Ranaji please, just get up!" I tried to get him to stand back but failed and before I knew it, I was on my knees right in front of him, for the second time.
" Please leave us." I asked the people around and they quickly started to clear the hallway.
" I told you Arjun, I am not walking away from you and this anger wasn't even towards you. I just snapped again and couldn't get a hold of my feelings. I am sorry. I didn't mean to act this way. I....I....something came over me and I am not proud to admit that it was jealousy but it was. I was jealous, am jealous." I heard myself pouring the truth out in front of him, completely willingly.
" You are jealous? Of whom Little One?" For a man this sharp, I couldn't believe he was asking me this.
" Of course Vani! Who else?" I got up and he followed me as I turned around to not face him, crossing my arms in front of my chest.
" You are jealous of Vani? Why Siya? What does she have that you don't?" He genuinely sounded shocked and I rolled my eyes as he made me turn towards him yet again.
" You! She had you and she loves rubbing it in my face. She knows you like I should know you and I don't and whenever she brings that up, I never have anything to say!" I accused him as if this was his fault when in reality, it was nobody's.
" She doesn't know me Siya. She never did. I am not going to insult you, my wife, by comparing any aspect of you with her but the truth is, you know me better than anyone and that is a fact. About handling her, you don't even need my help with that. You are enough to give it back to her that that is the reason why I did not step in tonight when she was trying to drag you down." I know he was trying to comfort me with his words and it worked as I let out a sigh.
" Can we please reschedule this date? All I want to do is go and hide." I asked him and he let out a laugh.
" Consider the date rescheduled but you are not hiding. Come on." He said, extending his hand towards me and I looked on, confused.
" What do you want?" I asked, looking at the hand and then back to his face, where he wore an expression a lot close to WHAT AM I GOING TO DO WITH HER.
He didn't say anything, dropped his hand and took two steps near me instead before scooping me in his arms, bridal way and I let out a yelp, wrapping my arms around his neck.
" Am I your gym equipment Ranaji? You cannot lift me all the time!" I whined but continued to enjoy the princess treatment.
" If it were to me, your home would be my arms Little Flower." He replied and I sighed. He did have a way with words and his words had a way with my stupid blush!
" But I am still hungry." I told him, mumbling the words at the nape of his neck, seeking solace and another laughter oscillated through him.
" What do you have in mind? Pizza?" He somehow read my mind and I nodded.
" If I am this painfully predictable to you, how do I still fascinate you Arjun?" I couldn't help but ask him as we got to our bedroom and he placed me on the bed before closing the door behind him.
" Because I might anticipate your wants and requirements but I can never remotely find out the next set of words that leave of those lips. Those lips which are begging for me to kiss them right now." He replied as he looked at me in the eyes and my lips parted.
In the soft glow of the moonlight cascading through the half-drawn curtains, I found ourselves entwined on the edge of the bed. Our eyes locked as we leaned in closer before he placed his lips on mine, leaving all the urgency in this world behind ourselves.
I was so lost in the kiss that I didn't realise when he had managed to pin me to the headboard of the bed with his hands, gently but firmly placed right below my neck, on the gape of my shoulders and his fingers moved on my bare shoulder skin, sending goosebumps all over me and then, it got too much for me so I pulled back just enough for air but our lips were still touching and my grip on his arm getting tighter with the minute as our foreheads were still pressed together.
" I am getting addicted to you, Little One. Addicted." I heard him whisper against my lips before cupping my face in his hands and pressing his lips on my forehead, then both my closed eyes but before he could move ahead, I had stopped him. This was perhaps getting too much for me because I felt every fibre of myself on fire, burning, maybe it was for his touch but I knew that we had to slow down.
" Arjun....I...can we please....can we please go a bit slow?" I found myself asking, as my face was cupped in his hands and I held both his wrists in my hands, opening my eyes.
" As slow as you want, Siya. Whatever pace you want." He replied and I managed to give him a smile and close my eyes for a bit as we sat together in silence for a while.
" Let me ask someone to get that pizza." He said after a few minutes and my eyes immediately flew open.
" No pizza from the Palace's kitchen. I want Dominos." I declared, searching for my phone.
" Dominos it is." He said and I immediately placed an order, my regular.
" I can't wait anymore. Where is my pizza?" I whined after watching ten minutes of Mai Hoon Naa and Arjun silently judging me for knowing all the movie dialogues by heart but I continued to ignore his basic lack of Shahrukh fandom knowledge. How was he even an Indian, I would never know.
" Five minutes away." He replied like an obedient husband because I had given him the task to constantly track my order and like an annoying idiot, I had asked him this question ten times in the past fifteen minutes but he gave me the answer every single time.
" By the way, where were you taking me tonight?" I asked him in complete curiosity but he shook his head, refusing to tell me.
" That is for me to know and you to find out the next time we successfully go on a date." He said in a straight tone and my shoulders hung.
Not fair but I also knew that we wasn't going to tell me so I had to drop it.
The pizza was here soon enough and Arjun ate a total of one piece, leaving the rest fifteen to me. Of course I had to order two large ones for two people and well, let's just say that Pizza and Mai Hoon Naa combo takers were present in the Palace since Samarth bhai, Preeti bhabhi and Janu had jumped in when I offered immediately, gladly. No one asked about the date and I was so thankful for that.
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Today was the day of my coronation and to say that I was freaking out would be an understatement. Mom had told Arjun, demanded even that she needed a grand ceremony of this and he was very happy to oblige after I gave him a go ahead last week. That's how I was here, sitting and getting ready. Mom and Preeti bhabhi had kicked Ranaji out of the room when he offered to help me get ready and then I closed the door on his face.
It felt oddly funny and satisfying and I loved every bit of it.
I sat in front of a full-length mirror as the scent of incense and jasmine filled the air. Preeti bhabhi and Mom were both dressed in the most elegant sarees I had ever seen.
I sat there in a richly hued Rajasthani lehenga, crafted in shades of crimson red, adorned with exquisite mirror work and intricate zari embroidery that depicted traditional motifs of peacocks and floral patterns. The lehenga flowed gracefully around me, reflecting the regal heritage of this land while the two of them commenced the rest of the solah shringaar since my mehendi was already done last night.
Preeti bhabhi, with a heartwarming smile, her fingers delicately grasping a celestial maang tika stood by my side. The opulent ornament graced my forehead while mom carefully draped a sheer, embroidered red odhni over my head, which cascaded down the back and shoulders.
Bhabhi then moved on to styling my hair. She created an intricate braided hairstyle adorned with fragrant roses and mom added a decorative mathapatti on my forehead, adorning me with a royal aura that complemented the essence of the lehenga.
As my eyes sparkled with a mix of excitement and nervousness, she applied surma to my eyes, giving them a captivating depth and allure. She enhanced my eyelids with earthy eyeshadows, reminiscent of the vibrant desert landscapes that surrounded us.
Mom then delicately painted my lips with a rich crimson shade, mirroring the color of my dress as she gave me a smile though the mirror, trying to ease my nerves.
Moving on to the jewelry, Preeti bhabhi and Mom adorned my neck with a stunning choker necklace, intricately designed with precious stones and gold, representing prosperity and fortune of our Kingdom. My wrists were adorned with a multitude of glass bangles in bright colors, each bangle making a pleasant jingle as they were stacked together and I shook my wrists again to hear that sound, letting myself laugh a bit.
Completing the Solah Shringaar, Preeti bhabhi placed a nath on my nose, twinkling with tiny pearls and as I finally looked into the mirror, I could hardly recognize myself.
" You're all done and Arjun, you can come inside. Make sure to fill Siya's maang with sindoor." Mom said and then they both excused themselves, walking out the room and I saw Arjun leaning at the doorframe with arms crossed in front of his chest, looking at me through the mirror.
Siya's Look ~
As our eyes met, I couldn't hold his gaze for even mere of seconds because his eyes were trying to talk to me and I was too shy, uncharacteristically.
" How long have you been standing there?" I couldn't help but ask him as I pretended to adjust my bangles.
" I don't know, Little One. I lost track of time." His response was so crude and direct that a gasp escaped my lips and the colour of my lehenga was the colour of my cheeks in all probability.
I knew he was still looking at me but made no attempt to move from where he was standing and I dared not meeting his gaze again.
My eyes refused to rise to meet his.
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