Lust Or Love?

Chapter 2

"You are not allowed to go out of the palace without informing the in-charge. Two. You will be fined for breakages. Three. You are excepted to do anything and everything princess ask you to. Four. You will be given a room outside the rang Mahal with the other maids and there you have to take care of your own food and clothing with the salary you are paid. Five. And most important, no men are allowed in this side of palace. "

Rajani nodded in response.

"There" she pointed towards a large room about a feet away. "That's the chamber of princess Rashmani! And remember no one till now had been here taking care of her for more than one week maximum. She is really a hard girl full of stubbornness. And beware of her pranks they are awful! from as much I have heard from the last girl who came here. "

The girl went back and Rajani entered into the room. It was big but not as much the last one.

"So you are here to take care of Rashmani? That's good.....come with me! " The princess showed her to her daughter's chamber.

"Rashi......see who is here to meet you! " queen Rohini called her daughter who was sitting in front of the large mirror kept at a corner of the room.

The five years old little bubbly girl turned around to look at them, her light brown eyes with combining with her light colored hair, she didn't look like her mother not even native her features were somewhat foreign. Rajani was thinking these things when queen Rohini spoke up.

"My elder brother, the king is very fond of Rashi, he often comes to meet her and ill management of her room or her needs won't be tolerated. "

Rajani realized that she was talking about the king of Umarkot, surya pratap.

So princess Rohini was living here with her daughter?Instead with her husband. She thought.

***

'Clank' the metals of brave warriors collided to make noises in the practice area of soldiers.

"Push with more strength! " The young king ordered the three soldiers who were in the sandy ground.

"More! " the king said.

And within seconds all of them were lying on the ground clasping their swords.

He came out of the practice area after his daily exercise, when Rashid his most trusted spy came to meet him.

"They are well trained your majesty.....about thirty thousand and if we take a look on their political relations then.....about.....four armies including.....Bikaner, bundi, chittor and malwa. They will be ready to help them in this war. "

"I see....Rashid send a notice to the ministers and the scholars immediately that I am seeking their presence in the court within half an hour. "Surya said.

"As you wish your majesty."

"But before that I have something important to do. "

Surya said and left for the rang Mahal to meet his dear niece, Rashmani.

King surya was yearning for a child for years now but the god has not yet given him the boon, he remembered the day when he told his desire for a child to a famous saint. He was puzzled when he saw the old saint smiling at him.

"God never gives us what we want! "

He said.

"But he gives us what we need. "

He smiled again and left.

And then his sister came back to Umarkot after six months of marriage.

He still remember the disastrous day.

After six months of princess Rohini's marriage with prince Badal, surya received a letter one day.

Surya was instantly ready to go and look what was bothering his dear sister. He even started to prepare his army with the pre-thought that if there's some kind of tortures going on his sister but the royal mother, mother of Surya thought differently. She was constantly saying that it is nothing but Rohini and Badal would have had a fight and nothing more and that it happens in every relationship.

Whatever it was Surya decided to take a look. The letter was really bothering him, Rohini wasn't a weak lady she was strong in every aspect of mentality and here was the letter just opposite to what she thought, in which she told how miserable she was.

The chirping of birds brought him back to the present. As he started to walk towards the Rang Mahal.

***

"Catch me if you can! " the little princess said in a sing song manner standing at the edge of the floor.

And this was getting on the nerves of Rajani from last half an hour she had a free running tour of the whole palace, trying to catch Rashmani.

Huh she was breathing heavily due to the heavy running.

Then again she heard a muffled giggle from the other side.

'Now I will show you with whom are you messing up! ' she thought and ran to catch her.

Just one arm distance......Rajani stretched her arm to reach the princess but with again a giggle she went out of reach and Rajani was left at the edge of the floor......her stretched arm reached none. She came off balance and fell down right into the water of the pond.

Water and water everywhere that's what Rajani saw in her vision. She was going down and down she went. She planned to push on the bottom of the pond through her feet and come out again on the surface but somehow it seemed very difficult.

She was going down further down but her feet did not touch the bottom. She was now going out of breath.....at last after what seemed like eternity her feet touched the bottom of the pond. She pushed on it with all her might and expected to get to the surface with the acquired monument but it never happened.....She somehow reached half the distance but then she was again moving down, no matter how much she threw her legs and hand to get up to the surface.

She lost hope and with her body loosing the strength she was forced to let go of everything and gave in. She stopped paddling her legs and hands and closed her eyes as blackness endured her, and was much-much more peaceful.

***

"My goodness! How did she fell in? "

Rajani heard someone saying. Still her eyes closed as two strong muscular arms gripped her back and waist and picked her up, she could now breathe there's air! As she tried to inhale the air she felt like throwing up. She coughed hard as water came out of her nostrils and mouth. Within minutes she opened her eyes. Her vision was blurry due to the water, but still she saw a few people around her. She blinked a few times and then she could see clearly. There was princess Rohini along with her maids and there was a man standing close to her. The sunlight hit her features as she studied the man.

He was all handsome, in wet clothes looking towards her. She tried to sit up but failed miserably. She coughed some water out again as she felt pain in different parts of her body.

"How did she fell in? " Rohini asked the little girl standing beside her with a fearful expression.

"I...I...I...I don't-" Rashmani was only able to say this much as she broke into crying.

"Don't lie Rashi! She was almost died! " Rohini scolded her daughter as she cried out.

"I have told you a thousand times before that stop playing pranks."

"I...it's al..alright! " Rajani mumbled lightly. "It was. ....no...not her....fau...fault. "

Surya looked at her with awe. She was so beautiful, a mere maid devoid of royal attire, jewels and accessories but still no one could stand up against the natural beauty she possesses. He could bet that every man in the world would want her.

This sudden thought made him realize something else. He looked around and saw every single man soldier around looking at her hungrily. Her clothes were dripping wet and was clinging to her body as a second skin.

"Brother you are wet....." Princess Rohini said with concern.

He looked towards his own attire, dripping wet!

He then glared at the soldiers which made them look down instantly.

Surya saw her trying to move but failing each time. He sat on his haunches and picked her up on his arms.

Both Surya and Rajani were now feeling the burning gazes on them. Even Rohini was looking at them with a strange expression but had nothing to say.

As soon as Surya entered into the Rang Mahal the situation changed for worst. The pricing gazes were still there a lot more in number and adding to this was the murmurs and whispers.

Rajani was now more than uncomfortable, being in the arms of a unknown man in wet clothes was not helped by the whispers and talking among the women of the palace.

Rajani squealed in his arms and Surya looked towards her. "It isn't appropriate for you to carry me. "

Rajani looked towards the women around her.

"Please put me down! "

She squealed again.

Surya looked away and increased the his pace of walking. Rajani was now pissed, thinking that this man is going to ruin her plans.

As he reached in the maids quarters he looked towards her again for directions. But this time Rajani didn't wait for anything but jumped off from his arms and walked towards her room. It was too painful for her, her legs were paining and were wobbly. But she walked as much straight as could.

"Thank you! " she mumbled lightly, and then surya watched as she disappeared into the quarters.

She was gone.....gone a long time ago but he was still standing there......waiting for something to happen which he himself don't know........ looking at the direction she went.