Before I start this chapter I want to thank all my reader for sharing my world. This is my first novel, and by reading my novel all of you are giving me the strength to write with more confidence. Love you all. Please leave comments and vote for me. It helps a lot.
Enjoy reading.
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Five days later
In the Ujjangarh palace
Noon time
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It was an unusually warm day for autumn. The sun was still high up in the sky. News had already reached that the guests had reached the city limits sometime ago and should be reaching the palace grounds soon. The whole royal family was waiting in the jade room.
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A footman came running to the kitchens shortly and made directly for Adira. She was standing near the service tables with her back to him, busy getting the tea service ready. A lavish spread had been prepared in honour of the royal guest. The French chef had outdone himself today. There were all types of delicate finger foods and deserts. All the food was being set on trays. People were running all over trying to get some work done. The silver tea set had been laid out in all its shining glory.
"Kumarisa" the footman huffed.
When he saw that no one had heard him, he said out louder.
"Kumarisa!!!!! Hukum ".
Adira hearing him this time turned.
"Yes, Ramu? What is it?"
"The guest has arrived, Kumarisa and Ranisa has asked for the tea to be served immediately."
Turning to the tall thin man man Shabhu, the head bearer standing next to her waiting patiently for her command. She said softly.
"Well!then Shambhu please take the tea to the Jade room."
"Hukum! Ranisa has asked for you to come and serve the tea."
"Me!!!!!"
"Ji! Yes Hukum. Ranisa clearly said that you are to come and serve the tea. She told me herself when she asked for the tea."
"Theek hai! Alright then! Chalo."
Turning around she motioned for all the concerned staff to follow her out of the kitchen with the laden trays.
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Rani Charumitra had insisted that the guest be received in the formal drawing room, The Jade room, so called because the room had a fabulous collection of Jade arte facts in it, brought over some fifty years ago from China by one of the ancestors of the Rana. This was the most beautiful and opulent room in the whole palace, and the Ranisa did want to make an impression on the visitor. Ranaji formally known as Raja DigVijay Singh Chavad so Ranaji in short was sitting near the fire place since it was the most commanding place in the room, smoking a pipe that he would puff from every now and then in between the conversation that was going on. He was not much of a short talk person so the smoking made it easy to fill in the conversation gaps. Although that was not required since Ranisa was more than making up for it. He would not have even been here had Ranisa not insisted on his presence. He would have been in his study reading some new journal that he had recently discovered or be out riding his favourite stallion Chetak. He was an avid reader and a fabulous rider. He mentained a large stable. He was a handsome looking man, with strong features and a curly moustache. He was wearing a formal check suit that fit him to perfection.
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The Ranisa along with Kumari Kamal Lata were sitting opposite to the Ranaji, near the window. The Ranisa was busy talking, trying to control the conversation, stirring it into whatever subject she thought suited best. She looked comfortable and confident in a yellow lightly embroidered saree. The Kumari KamalLata was in a leafy green silk salwar kameez with a green silk dupatta, and Jadau jewellery. She was a beautiful young girl just seventeen, with petite features and a delicate body structure. Almond shape eyes, high cheek and full lips. but that was it. The picture was quite pretty till she opened her mouth. For God seemed to have blessed her with beauty but in a hurry seemed to have forgotten to bestow the brains!!! She had a huge smile on her face as she looked on the handsome visage of their guest. Unable to take her adoring eyes off him.
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The Kumar Anant Singh,the heir and and only son of the Ranaji, was sitting in between the Ranisa and Ranaji. He was an adorable ten year old. He was a sweet natured child but right now he looked more rebellious as he had been trussed up like a goose on display. The poor thing looked miserable. He would much rather be out playing then sitting here, but......
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The most important person in the room the guest of honour was sitting in between the Ranaji and the Ranisa with his back to the entrance. He was a young man of twenty-four, with very fair skin, greenish blue eyes and blackish brown hair. He was a handsome man with a commanding presence. He seemed to be mainly in conversation with the Rani Charumitra since the other three did not seem to have much to add to the talk.
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A light knock stalled the talk. A footman opened the door.
"Hukum! Kumari Adira is here with the tea repast."
In entered Adira followed by a long line of tray bearers with the tea and its accompaniments. She turned to Ranisa who gestured to her to start serving the tea straight away. There was a comfortable silence in the room now. As per the status first the Ranaji was served then the Ranisa, followed by the guest, then Kumari Kamal Lata and Kumar Anant in the end.Small coffee tables were set before each person with there individual portion of snacks and desert.
While the snacks were being served Adira could feel a strong gaze nudging her, she quietly looked up.
"Ahhhhhh........ Abhimanyu!!!!"
She almost stopped breathing from the shock of seeing Abhimanyu comfortably sitting there in front of her. He too was looking shocked at seeing her, here in the Chavad Palace.
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"No... No.....no..... This couldn't be happening. .........Abhimanyu was the much awaited Royal guest???? No... No ...no. This can't be happening to me.
" Adira, please pour the tea."
Blindly responding to the order she poured the tea, automatically. Thankful for the years of training, for right now she was not capable of much. Wishing she could run out of here now..........right now. Suddenly a thought struck her.
What if he called out to her ....... here............. Mentioned he knew her............" Holding her breath she kept pouring the tea keeping her fingers crossed. Having to finally come and serve Abhi, she made sure she kept her gaze down. She did not want to look at him. She knew she did not have the strength to look him in his eyes. What would she say to him even if she did look up at him and talked to him. God!! He looked so handsome. Her heart was beating so fast .... So loud....... What if........ She almost choked, from not breathing.
Taking a deep breath........... She steadied herself.
"Sugar?" she asked blandly.
"One spoon,please" he said softly.
Placing the cup of tea on the table in front of him she quickly served the others. Then mumbling something incomprehensible she rushed out of the room as soon as the service was over.
She ran like the demon was behind her, for it was her demon. Her mistake, her one cherished mistake, come back to haunt her ........and in such a way. Ripping open her still tender wounded heart, that had yet to start healing. She ran all the way, till she reached her room. Thankful that she had not come across anyone on the way. She had no way of justifying her actions. Shutting the door she finally let herself breath out. Tears were running down her cheeks, her emotions not allowing her to stop then. Running down faster then she could wipe them.
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"Was God not done with testing her, well!! it did not look like it. Karma!" She sighed. "Maybe she still had some mistakes to pay for from her past life. But to have Abhi back in her life in this manner? This can't be true ...... This must be just a dream. I must be imagining him here. ....... !!! Oh !! Stop it. This is not a dream and you know it. So Adira deal with it and find a solution." She told herself sternly. "Enough of this weakness, now think of some solution to stay out of Abhi's way." She grew quite as she contemplated
"Don't come infront of him." Talking to herself she finally exclaimed.
Walking up and down the small room, she knew this was not going to be easy, but somehow she just had to make sure that she kept as far away from Abhimanyu as possible. She would have to seek Daimaa's help.
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Back in the Jade room everything was going smoothly as though nothing had happened.
However now KamalLata too had gotten over her initial shyness and had joined the conversation.
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"Adira!!!!! Here? What was she doing here? Why was she dressed in white?"
Too many questions were whirling in his mind. All he could think off right now was Adira, here, right in front of him......... She had not even looked at him. As though she was ashamed of acknowledging him, but that did not make sense. I have to meet her alone......... I have to talk to her. Thank God I've found her. This last month had been hell, what being unable to find her........I .........."
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Suddenly a voice intruded his musings.
" Kumar Abhimanyu! Is not the tea repast to your liking? ..........Maybe something else." The Ranisa asked. " Maybe something Indian is more to your liking?" She asked concerned that the guest had not even taken a little of the repast set in front of him.
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Returning back from him musings he switched on his charm and turned to wooing the ladies seated in the room.
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"I hope Rani Sahib that you don't mind my friend Chaudhary Bharat Singh too will be joining us."he asked.
"No not at all it will be our honour to have him stay here with us. The adjoining room in your suite has already been prepared for him. He too shall be our honoured guest. So when will he be arriving?
"Anytime soon, today." Thank God he said silently. He needed his friends help, and as soon as possible.
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