Warrior Princess; Her Quest to the throne

Mriga gave Abhirath a tiny smile and asked, "How is he now? How did the night go?"     

He told her that Shaurya had been uneasy when the effects of the medicine had started to wean off.     

"He thrashed his arms and mumbled incoherently, but quietened down when I gave him the dose. The medicine's effects should last till late morning. So, you don't have to worry about anything," Abhirath finished with an assuring smile.     

Mriga told him to go and catch up on some sleep and come back later. Even though Abhirath was loath to leave her there, he knew that he was sleep deprived and would probably add to her workload here.     

She bid farewell to him and entered the room. As was the norm now, she first went to check Shaurya's forehead. It felt cool to her touch and the breathing wasn't labored as well. His face looked boyish in sleep, now that it wasn't marred with a scowl or pain.     

She went around the room, tidying up whatever little there was. Then she went to the kitchen to wash the pitcher and fill fresh drinking water in it.     

She came to place it next to his bedside and tiptoed out of the room again. Surveying the hall, she picked up the broom and other cleaning supplies. After half hour, she sat back on her haunches. Sweat dripped from her forehead. During her stay with Shaurya in the mentorship days at the shop, she had realised that cleaning was therapeutic for her chaotic mind. Ever since last night, her head had been in a violent turmoil. She had maintained a calm facade but everything was slowly crumbling inside her. After listening to Ishani's words, she had formed a near accurate idea about what the real situation was and it was not in her DNA to run away from facing the facts.     

Any illusions which she may have formed about her future with Yash were shattered last night. He may have liked her but apparently, he wasn't allowed to, as per his family rules. In Chandragarh, it was not mandatory to take one's parents' permission before getting married as long as the legal age was met. But those who feared their parents or were dependent upon them to make the decisions on their behalf, wouldn't step outside the boundaries set by their family.     

She was disappointed and hurt. Disappointed with herself for being so gullible and allowing her emotions to get the better of her rational thoughts; hurt at Yash for not being honest or brave enough. And then there was a slow burning anger which was simmering at the back of her mind, at Vindhya and Yash's mother and the 'ideology and values' which they represented.     

She got up and went to wash her hands and face before returning to Shaurya's side. Peering at his face closely, she was satisfied with everything being fine with him. Exhaustion took over her and she slid down next to the bed and sat on the floor.     

With her back resting against the bed, she covered her face with her hands. Before she knew it, a steady stream of tears started flowing from her eyes. It was like a faucet had been turned on. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't stem the flow. Giving in, she let the tide of misery take over her.     

"Whaaaa…" a surprised shriek came out from her mouth as a hand snaked through her neck few seconds later.     

She tried to turn to look at Shaurya, who had apparently come awake due to her sobs but his palm stopped her from doing so.     

"I… I am really really sorry. I didn't realise… I didn't mean to wake you up," she said in acute embarrassment, facing away from him.     

Her voice was hoarse and face aflame.     

Shaurya's index finger reached her lips and stopped her from speaking any further.     

She could feel him shift on the bed.     

"WHAT is he trying to do???" she thought in consternation.     

"Don't say anything. Don't move. Don't look at me. Just let it go…" his voice sounded rusty, as if he hadn't been used it in a really long time.     

Saying so, he gently pulled her head towards himself with his arm, making it lean against what seemed like his chest. Keeping his arm linked around her shoulders, he sighed softly and then quietened down.     

Mriga, who had been ready to die out of humiliation a minute ago, found herself caught in a warm half-embrace of the last person from whom she would have expected something akin to comfort. But that's exactly what he was offering – unconditional comfort.     

In this moment, his identity, her relation with him... all ceased to matter. She closed her eyes and let the tendons in her neck relax, leaning into the warmth of his body. She could hear his steady heartbeat, faintly. It was soothing and helped her calm down.     

The torrential pouring had stopped but few remaining tears still leaked out of her eyes and landed on his forearms. None of them spoke for the next unaccountable minutes.     

Sniffing, she finally croaked, "Ahem, I want to go wash my face."     

Wordlessly, he removed his arm and shuffled on the bed to turn his face the other side by the time she stood up.     

She looked at his back facing towards her with gratitude and relief. She was astonished at his sensitivity.     

Fifteen minutes back     

Shaurya regained his senses and blinked rapidly to clear his vision. He was in his room and seemed to have been hurt, judging by the pain in his limbs. He gingerly touched his chest to find an ointment which probably had been put on the wound there. Also, the back of his throat burned and felt as if it had been grazed.