"Humare chehra dekh ke lagta hain hum mazak kar rahe hain?"
(Does it look like I am joking by my face?)
"Lekin ye toh bhaijaan ki shaan mein gustakhi hogi bhabijaan! Esa mat kariye. Bhaijaan waise toh bohot shaant swabab ke hain lekin agar unhe gussa aa gaya toh kayamat aa jayegi."
( But this will be considered as an insult towards brother. Don't do this. Brother is really calm by nature but if he gets angry it will be the end.)
Aaliyah said,her tone extremely worried.
"Aaliyah?"
"Ji?"
(Yes)
"Humein pata hain hum kya kar rahe hain. Tension maat karo."
(I know what I am doing. Do get tensed.)
"Kya? Kya na kare?"
( What? What shouldn't I do?)
Shit.Shit.Shit. What did I say just now. Thay don't know English do they? Of course they don't. And neither should I according to them. My stupid mouth.
"Chinta maat karo kaha humne. Abhi jao taiyaar ho aur humein bhi hone do." I laughed nervously.
( I said don't get tensed. Now go get ready and let me get ready too.)
Please buy it. Please buy it. Please.Please.Please.
"Okay. But don't blame me saying I didn't warn you beforehand."
"I won't."
Thank god she brought it and left.I just made a really stupid mistake. How could I! More than two months and I still haven't learned not to mix Hindi with English.
While I think Aaliyah did buy my act of ignorance Meena didn't. She was still eyeing me suspiciously. I don't blame her. This isn't exactly the first time I have said an English word. For the past two and half months I've made this mistake for quite few times.
It isn't easy just to switch completely to pure Hindi after years of speaking mixed languages. I tried but sometimes it just comes out involuntarily. I am honestly surprised how no one has really cared about it.
"You know sometimes you say some weird things. What are they baisa? Are they some kind of foreign language?" Meena said bringing the orange lehenga towards me.
Well, spoke too soon. Someone cares about it.
How do I avoid this! Oh god please help me. Should I just tell her the truth? Maybe it's for the better. Maybe she won't think I am crazy.
"I-"
Before I could complete my sentence an attendee interrupted me. "We shouldn't delay any more than this begum sahiba. Or else you will be late."
I sighed in...I don't know in what. Relief,because I didn't had to tell her or frustration, because I couldn't tell her.
That matter ended right then and there. I would have to be more careful. Slip of tongue isn't allowed here. Every small mistake can cost me something big.
I finally got ready in that 'I shouldn't wear' orange lehenga. I look pretty good I must say.
"Come begum sahiba, I will take you to deewan-e-khaas." The same attendee from earlier said. I nodded and put my veil on and started walking following her.
My whole way from the chamber to there I couldn't stop thinking about his reaction. Oh how much fun it will be to see the reaction of disobeying the mighty Sultan.
"Rethink your decision baisa." Meena said from the side.
This girl,always so cautious. Where's the fun in being cautious.
"Uff Meena first Aaliyah now you. I told you guys not to worry." I said as we finally reached there.
To say that the area was majestic would be an insult. I have never seen such beautiful room before. The white marble walls were reflecting by the light from the glowing candles all over the room.
I was so busy ogling at the beauty of the room that I couldn't hear the distant praises coming across the room. And it was about me. Right, I am the queen now. But what is more worth noticing is the reaction of sultan. Since the veil today was a bit transparent I could make out the faces and reactions.
As I walked towards him I could only notice his awful calm expression. What the hell?! Didn't Aaliyah said he would be furious or something?! All this for nothing. It's me who's getting furious instead.
He took my hand leading me towards the sitting side especially reserved for us. Isn't he going to say something at least?
"How do I look?" I pressed sitting beside him. There's a curtain separating us from rest of the people. It gave me a chance to finally lift my veil and notice him. And boy does he look good absolutely fuckable in that black kurta. Wait what?
I immediately turned my head away from him lowering my gaze. The hell is wrong with me.
"You look good Yaksha."
That was the first time he called me by name and while it isn't a big deal, my heart had this unsettling feeling. I didn't like it. It's just my name! He is supposed to call me by my name. What's the problem here!
"Aap log bismillah kar sakte hain."
( You can start eating.)
He ordered in a loud and authoritative tone,sending waves through my body. This is my first time hearing him being authoritative.
Dinner went nice and smooth except it didn't. I could barely put any food past my throat. Even though everything in my plate was accordingly to my liking, I couldn't bring myself to enjoy the food. Me, I, the foodie couldn't eat.
"Aap apne kamre mein jaiye."
( Go to your chamber.)
He said washing his hands. Well someone had a nice dinner. Someone who isn't me!
"Aur aap?" I asked while thanking the attendee who was washing my hands giving a gentle nod.
( And you?)
"Humein yaha abhi kaam hain. Jashn abhi khatam nehi hua hain. Humein aur kuch der rukna padhega. Abhi toh raqs bhi baki hain."
( I still have work here. The celebration hasn't ended yet. I have to stay here for another few hours. Even the dance is still remaining.)
I couldn't really understand what he said at the last. I have never heard this word before. But I nodded anyway. Not my concern. Whatever thing he has, why should I bother.
I stood up to leave but he interrupted me. "Aur Yaksha?"
(And Yaksha?)
"Ji?" I fixed my veil back on my head.
"Ye libass utarna maat. Aur ye dharkhwast nehi hukum hain. Nafarmani ka gustakhi maat kijiyega."
( Don't take these clothes off. And this is not a request rather an order. Don't do the mistake of disobeying.)
I gulped and stiffed in my place. What does that mean? Why shouldn't I take off these clothes?
"Aap ab ja sakte hain."
( You can go now.)
I never walked so fast in my life,well maybe I did when I was late for my early morning classes. This isn't called walking,this is basically running. I took half of the time to reach my chamber that I took when I left.
The moment I entered the chamber I left out a heavy breath. He looked so...so different today. Not like how he is usually and I couldn't exactly pin the exact emotion. Was it seductive or authoritative? And why the heck did I like it!
"Why do you look so distraught? Did something happen there? You have been like this since you left from the party."
"No! What would happen Meena?"
"Why are you getting all defensive? I get it,nothing happened. Come I will help you get undressed and then head to my chamber. I am so tired today."
"No!!!" That was a little too loud for my liking.
"Are you sure you are okay? You are really acting weird." She said furrowing her brows.
"I am fine! Nothing happened. It's just...it's just- nothing! Don't worry. You can go sleep. I will help myself."
No matter how brave I am or pretend to be, I am not brave enough to disobey him twice. Not after seeing that tone. And specially because I don't liked how he called by my name.
"Wait Meena! Do you know what uh what was the word again um yes! Raqs! Do you know what 'raqs' means?"
"Oh you don't know? It means dance. There is going to be a dance performance or something by some ladies,some kings brought some performers specially tonight for a dance show."
What!
"Humein na bohot neend aa rahi hain. Apko toh madat ki abashakta nehi hain toh hum jaate hain.Shubratri." She yawned and left.
(I am very sleepy. Since you don't need any help then I will go.Good night.)
What the hell! Performance? Dance? While here I am here worrying about him being mad at me he is enjoying some absurd performance. Huh! Why do I even try.
Three hours! Three complete hours before I could finally hear the distant sound of footsteps. Not that I was counting times or whatever. I immediately left the book in my hand under the pillow and stood up.
Thud.
The sound of the door closing came into my ears.
As soon as he came into my view my breathing started running fast like it's on a treadmill. But there he was, didn't even look at me once.
"How was the dance performance? Did you enjoy it? Oh I bet you did. You got to look at beautiful women,right? Y-"
"Strip."
My eyes widened. Did he just say what I think he did?
"What?"
"I really don't like to repeat myself Yaksha. Strip. Since I said I wouldn't touch you,you're going to do it yourself."
There it was,the tone and calling me by my name.
"I am going to do no such thing." I tried to be brave.
He took predatory steps towards me. As soon as he came face to face with me he caged me between the wall with both his hands.
"Really? But I think you are going to. Or you won't like the consequences. I don't do well with disrespecting people little wife and right now you are really testing my patience. Strip out of these clothes and wear the one I sent. Right now."
He wasn't shouting at me. No. He was doing quite the opposite.His tone was sharp and calm. Like a predator waiting for his prey to give in.
"No." I glared at him. I was only playing with the fire. Driving him to his last stop. He face said it was on his last resort. But did it make me stop. No.
"No? Are you sure?" He grabbed the back of my neck pulling me even more close, his fingers easily wrapping around it.His face inches away from me as he caressed my cheeks slowly with his fingers.His body brushed against me. I almost whimpered at the feeling but quickly kept it from leaving my mouth.
My breath quickened. It wasn't just pure fear of what he might do next in my bones,but the desire causing my thighs to become wet. And I don't know if I hated the feeling or liked it more than anything.
"Change. The. Clothes. Begum" his hot breath touched my face. He was so close that I thought his lips would touch mine. His thumb rubbing my lips back and forth.My eyes closed involuntarily. But then there was no movement. The warmth radiating from his body disappeared all of a sudden.
I opened my eyes only to see he wasn't there anymore. In the chamber!I was waiting for the freaking kiss! What the hell. So he was teasing me again? I could still feel the sear of his hand on my neck,warmth of his body.I thought he meant I had to change in-font of him.
My cheeks turned hot as that thought crossed my mind. Oh god those novels. I should stop reading such novels.
I wanted to defy him more. But the quota of my guts has ended for today. I didn't wanted to make him more mad. Honestly little scared of the consequences.
So I changed to the green lehenga as fast as I could. And waited like an obedient wife.
As soon as he entered again I spoke immediately.
"I changed!" As if I was waiting for his approval. I was.
I opened my eyes only to see he wasn't there anymore. In the chamber!I was waiting for the freaking kiss! What the hell. So he was teasing me again? I could still feel the sear of his hand on my neck,warmth of his body.I thought he meant I had to change in-font of him.
My cheeks turned hot as that thought crossed my mind. Oh god those novels. I should stop reading such novels.
I wanted to defy him more. But the quota of my guts has ended for today. I didn't wanted to make him more mad. Honestly little scared of the consequences.
So I changed to the green lehenga as fast as I could. And waited like an obedient wife.
As soon as he entered again I spoke immediately.
"I changed!" As if I was waiting for his approval. I was.
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