• Echoes of the Night •
Agnijeet closed the small distance between them by a single step.
"Bhago!"
(Run!)
The command struck her like a physical blow. Dilshana gasped as her heart slammed against her ribs with brutal force. She turned on her heel and sprinted straight into the abyss of the open doorway.
The pitch-black night swallowed her whole. For the first few yards, her eyes could not adjust to the dense shadows. Her lungs burned as she stumbled over uneven stone joints, her hands scraping against the rough masonry to keep her balance, until she finally broke through the outer gates of the fort.
The chill of the air hit her, biting into her limbs, but she did not slow down. The path beneath her feet transformed from smooth stone into the treacherous slopes of the fortress hill. Rough gravel and dried brambles dug into the soles of her bare feet. Pain flared through her ankles, yet the agony was nothing compared to the terror driving her forward.
Her breath came in ragged gasps that echoed in the empty night. Every ten or twenty strides, an unbearable urge compelled her to twist around and glance behind her.
And every single time she looked back, her heart seized. He was there.
Agnijeet moved through the shadows with a steady pace, entirely unhurried, carrying the terrifying certainty of a apex predator who knew his prey had nowhere left to hide.
He simply kept walking, his footsteps building an inescapable rhythm behind her. Dilshana squeezed her eyes shut against the stinging tears, pushing her exhausted legs to move faster down the winding path.
Suddenly, from the shadows beside the path, low snarls broke through the quiet.
A pack of fort dogs stepped out of the bush, their yellow eyes glowing in the moonlight. They bared their teeth, crouching low and growling as she approached.
Panic choked the breath in her throat. She dropped to her knees, picking up stones. She hurled the stone, her voice cracking into a desperate shriek.
"Hato! Door hato!"
(Get away! Move away!)
The stone struck a dog's shoulder. The animals yelped, scattering back into the dark underbrush.
She scrambled back to her feet, and forced herself to sprint toward the lower grounds of the fort. The open flatland at the bottom of the fortress hill was finally in sight, but her strength was rapidly giving out.
Near the base of the slope, her bare toe caught hard against a limestone rock. A strangled scream tore from her throat. She fell hard, crashing onto the gravel, the force of the impact knocking the remaining air completely out of her lungs.
Agnijeet stopped a few paces away from her. Dilshana remained collapsed, her palms pressed into the dirt. Her whole body shook with jagged breaths.
She looked up, scanning the vast wilderness stretching out from the base of the fortress. There were no paths, no lights, no signs of life, just miles of unforgiving terrain and looming dark hills. She did not know which way led home. Her feet were bleeding, and her strength was entirely spent.
Under the pale moonlight, she looked like a delicate blossom discarded on the floor. The desperate tears streaming down her pale cheeks left tracks through the soot on her face, making her look impossibly fragile. Her emerald-green eyes were now completely shattered, reflecting an unbearable vulnerability. As her chest heaved with ragged sobs, she seemed so broken that even the shadows around her appeared to soften, unable to touch her pain.
She buried her face in her hands and began to weep hysterically. Sound of sobs echoed in silent night.
Agnijeet stepped closer and crouched in the dirt next to her. He grasped her ankle, lifting her foot to inspect the wound. Blood mixed with dark dust was trickling down her skin.
He stared at the wound, tracing the uninjured skin near her heel with his thumb. He murmured softly.
"Dekho... ghaav lag gaya na."
(Look... you got hurt, didn't you.)
He slipped his hands beneath her arms and lifted her up onto her feet. Her knees buckled, but his grip remained firm. She stood in front of him, looking at his chest. She parted her lips, her throat working to form words, to say anything, but her sobs made it impossible for her.
Agnijeet smoothed back the messy strands of hair clinging to her damp face, tucking them behind her ears. He then began brushing the dirt and gravel off her attire, with gentle strokes.
He adjusted the drape over her shoulder, smoothing down the fabric. He looked down at her face.
"Ab thik ho?"
(Are you alright now?)
Dilshana nodded her head, tears continuing to stream down her cheeks, her lungs desperately searching for air.
Agnijeet stared at her for a second. Then he took half a step back and pointed toward the dark horizon once more.
"Toh bhago. Shahraz to bahut dur hai par subah tak kam se kam Ratangadh toh pahunchna hi hoga tumhein."
(Then run. Shahraz is too far. But by morning, you must at least reach Ratangadh.)
Dilshana froze, staring at him in complete disbelief, searching his unreadable face beneath the faint moonlight. His jaw remained tightly clenched.
Her lips trembled, but the words refused to come. She tried again, a broken hiccup catching in her throat. "Chot lagi hai hume... aap toh hume apni Ardhangini kehte hain na... phir.. phir.."
(I am hurt... you call me your wife, don't you? Then...)
Then suddenly, she took a step forward. She threw her arms around Agnijeet's neck, clinging to him with all the strength left in her body. She sobbed desperately, her fingers digging tightly his skin.
Agnijeet stayed perfectly still, feeling the violent tremors running through her spine. He asked near her hair.
"Kya?" (What?)
Dilshana clutched his neck even tighter, weeping hysterically. "Kuch nahi... hume nahi pata..."
(Nothing... I don't know...)
Agnijeet slid his arms under her thighs and back, scooping her off the ground. He carried her toward a raised stone ledge near the base of the fort wall. He set her down on the flat stone.
"Shant ho jao."
(Calm down.)
He stood in front of her, letting her sit there in the cool night air to catch her breath. She pulled her knees toward her chest, wiping her face with her dirt-stained odhni, still shuddering from sobs.
Agnijeet waited patiently until her sharp gasps turned into weary breaths. He looked down into her swollen eyes.
"Wapis chalna hai?"
(Do you want to go back?)
Dilshana didn't hesitate for a single second. She nodded frantically, her voice small and broken. "Haan... haan..."
(Yes... yes...)
Agnijeet asked again.
"Kya?"
(What?)
Dilshana looked up at him, her lips trembling as fresh tears welled up. "Hume wapis chalna hai..."
(I want to go back...)
Suddenly, the synchronized sound of horse hooves broke the quiet of the night. It was Vishwajeet and Vijaydev, leading two horses down the slope.
As they brought the horses to a halt, both Vishwajeet and Vijaydev had their jaws set tight, their eyes burning with hidden frustration and intense concern. They looked down at Dilshana sitting bruised, and weeping.
The moment Dilshana spotted Vishwajeet, a small flicker of relief broke through her panic. She scrambled off the stone ledge, ignoring the sting in her foot, and rushed past Agnijeet toward Vishwajeet. "Devar Sa!"
Vishwajeet's heart clenched at the raw fear in her voice. He instinctively took a step forward, his hand hovering near her shoulder. He asked softly as he carefully helped her balance near his horse.
"Bhabhi Sa... aap thik hain?"
(Bhabhi Sa... are you alright?)
Stepping fully in front of Dilshana, Vishwajeet shielded her from Agnijeet, his voice trembling with bitter fury.
"Bhai Sa, yeh aapki patni hain... koi shatru nahi, jise is tarah dara kar rakha jaye."
(Bhai Sa, she is your wife... not an enemy to be kept in such fear.)
The air at the base of the fortress froze instantly. Vijaydev's breath caught in his throat, his eyes widening in pure horror at Vishwajeet's audacity.
Agnijeet didn't blink. He locked his gaze onto Vishwajeet for a suffocating second, and then took his first slow step forward.
Dilshana instantly recognized the lethal stillness. She knew what that single step meant.
Horrified that Vishwajeet would suffer for defending her, Dilshana scrambled forward. She stepped between the two brothers, pressing her hands on Agnijeet's chest. "Nahi... nahi! Chaliye yahan se... guzaarish karte hain hum aapse... chaliye!"
(No... no! Let's go from here... I beg of you... let us go!)
Agnijeet paused, his eyes shifting downward to look at her small hands trembling against his chest. Her desperate intervention broke the spell of violence.
Vijaydev immediately stepped in, his voice low but firm. "Rana Sa... kripya, pehle inhe le jaiye aap. Ye pehle hi bahut bhaybhit hain."
(Rana Sa... please, take her away first. She is already terrified.)
Agnijeet reached down and scooped her up into his arms. Dilshana held weakly on his shoulder out of pure fear as he carried her over to Vishwajeet's horse.
He hoisted her up onto the saddle, mounting smoothly behind her a second later.
Gathering the reins, Agnijeet wrapped his arm around her waist, pinning her tightly to him. Dilshana buried her face into his neck, trembling in the cold night air as Agnijeet kicked the horse into a steady trot, heading back toward the fortress.
By the time the horse clattered to a stop in the courtyard, the first pale rays of dawn were breaking over the horizon.
Agnijeet carried her the through the quiet corridors. Dawn's faint light trickled through the high arched windows. Dilshana kept her face buried in the crook of his neck.
Stepping into his chamber, he walked to the canopy bed. He laid her down gently on the mattress, pulling the curtains of the bed shut. He walked out to the doorway, stepping into the corridor to give orders.
Agnijeet returned to the bed. He slipped inside the curtains, seating quietly on the edge of the mattress. He slowly brushed his fingers through her tangled hair, while he stared down at her pale, soot-stained face, and her tightly shut eyes.
A short while later, the soft rustle of footsteps entered the outer room. The maidservants had arrived to prepare her bath.
Kumud's hesitant voice called out from beyond the bed curtains. "Naaz..."
Agnijeet shifted closer, helping Dilshana sit up on the bed. He led her out from behind the drapes, handing her over to Kumud and the two maidservants. The women guided her into the bathing area.
By the time Dilshana emerged from the bath, cleaned, wrapped in a soft cotton lehnga, the maidservants bowed and withdrew, leaving the tray besides the bed.
Dilshana moved weakly back to the bed, collapsing onto the metress. Agnijeet picked up the bowl of herbal ointment and bandages, and sat down near her feet.
Her damp hair spilled loosely over her shoulders, framing a face still flushed, while her swollen eyes avoided his completely.
He lifted her injured foot gently into his lap. Dilshana flinched the moment his fingers closed around her heel, but he held it firmly.
He scooped a small amount of medicinal paste onto his fingertips and spread it slowly over the wound.
Dilshana hissed sharply, her toes curling instinctively.
His eyes immediately lifted to her face.
He saw the tears still gathered along her lower lashes, refusing to fall. He looked at her foot again, where the cut across her heel had begun to bleed afresh.
He leaned closer and gently blew over the wound, cooling the burning medicine against her skin.
"Bas... ab nahi jalega."
(There... it won't burn anymore.)
He waited a few seconds before wrapping the bandage around her foot.
His thumb paused against her ankle. Then his gaze rose to her face again.
The tears were still there.
He lowered his head and pressed a gentle kiss onto her toes.
Dilshana gasped, her eyes snapping open wide in complete shock. Her breath hitched in her throat as a violent shiver ran up her leg.
She stared at him, utterly still. His long hair had fallen forward, partially veiling his face as his eyes closed against her skin. For one suspended moment, all she could see were his lashes, the sharp line of his features, and his red lips on her fingers.
Agnijeet held his lips on her foot for a long second before lifting his head. His face remained calm, his eyes locked onto hers with an intensity that was neither tender nor cruel.
"Har ghav ka ek hisaab hota hai, Ardhangini. Aur jab bhi Shahraz ki beti humari patni ko koi nuksan pahochayegi. Use kimat chukani padegi."
(Every wound carries an account, wife. And whenever Shahraz's daughter causes any harm to my wife... she will have to pay the price for it.)
Dilshana went completely still.
For a moment, she could only stare at him, unable to understand what she had just heard. On the surface, his tone was smooth, but beneath it lay a terrifying double-edged truth.
Dilshana understood instantly what Agnijeet was doing. He was addressing her simultaneously as his enemy, the daughter of Shahraz, and as his wife, blurring the lines of her identity into a twisted trap.
To her, his statement was a ruthless reminder of her reality. If she, as a daughter of Shahraz, brought any harm or dishonor to the woman holding the position of his wife, even if that woman was herself, the retribution would be absolute.
He was separating her past from her present, making it chillingly clear that he would hold her accountable for every single act of defiance, using her very position as his Ardhangini to tighten his grip around her.
Suddenly kumud cleared her throat, the curtain rustled open. She stepped in quietly, carrying a steaming goblet of warm turmeric milk along with light morning food. She set the tray down and slipped out of the chamber.
Agnijeet shifted, moving up the mattress to sit beside Dilshana. He took the goblet from the tray and brought it to her lips. "Piyo... aur phir so jao."
(Drink... and then sleep.)
Dilshana took small sips of the hot milk, the warmth trickling down her throat. Agnijeet held the cup steady until it was completely empty, setting it back onto the table.
Dilshana's eyes remained on him. He was far too close. She could see those unreadable brown eyes watching her.
For one dangerous second, she forgot why she was afraid of him.
Something inside her snapped. She lunged forward, her arm wrapping fiercely around him. She buried her face into his chest, her fingers clawing frantically into his tunic as violent sobs wrecked her.
Agnijeet stayed perfectly still, letting her cry in his chest, feeling her trembling with heart breking sobs.
She pulled back slightly, her swollen eyes burning with a terrifying promise as she glared up into his face. "Jis din hum aapki is qaid se niklenge... aapki hi shamsheer aapke seene mein utaar denge. Aapke har ek zulm ka hisaab aapke khun se likhenge."
(The day I break free from your captivity... I will plunge your own sword straight into your chest. I will write the account of every single cruelty of yours with your own blood.)
Her voice trembled with raw venom as she pressed further, her hands shaking against his chest. "Is guroor ke nashe mein mat rahiyega... humari zanjeerein mat kholiyega... warna aapki ragon mein zahar ghol denge hum. Aapki aakhri saans mein aapko sirf afsos hoga hume qaid karne ka."
(Do not remain blinded by this pride... do not undo my chains... or I will pour poison into your very veins. In your final breath, your only regret will be capturing me.)
Agnijeet stared down at her enraged face. He simply raised his hand, catching a tear trailing down with his thumb.
His gaze flicked down to her trembling lips, his voice dropping into a dangerous murmur. "Vidhwa hone ka itna shauk hai tumhe?... Aur kaise dogi zahar hume? Apne in raktim adharon par laga kar?"
(Are you so eager to become a widow?... And how will you poison me? By applying it to these crimson lips of yours?)
Dilshana's breath hitched in her throat, her chest heaving with disbelief.
Before she could process, Agnijeet shifted his hand to the back of her head, his tone returning to that even stillness.
"Ab thak gayi ho. So jao."
(You are exhausted now. Go to sleep.)
That casual dismissal snapped the last string of her sanity. Dilshana pushed violently against his chest, her voice cracking into a shriek.
"So jao?! Kya har baat par 'so jao, so jao, so jao'?! Insaan nahi hain aap... Murat hain! Woh bhi sirf zulm aur guroor ki! Samjhte kya hain aap apne aap ko?!"
(Go to sleep?! Is it always 'go to sleep, go to sleep, go to sleep' with you?! You are not a human... you are a statue! A statue made of nothing but tyranny and pride! What do you think of yourself?!)
She balled her hands into fists and slammed them repeatedly on his shoulders.
She clawed frantically into his chest. Her nails dragged across his skin through the fabric, leaving faint red scratches behind.
Her breath hitched, and the furious attack dissolved completely into raw sobs. Agnijeet locked her securely in his embrace. He began to stroke her damp hair with a steady rhythm.
Dilshana tried to pull back one last time, muttering bitter curses, but the warmth of his chest and the movement of his hand through her hair slowly overpowered her shattered senses.
Within moments, her eyelids fluttered shut, her angry whispers fading into soft, quiet breaths in his embrace.
• Three Days •
Following that traumatic night, three days passed in stifling silence within the chamber.
Dilshana fell ill after the incident. The smoke inhalation combined with the sheer terror of the night triggered a high fever. Her foot was bandaged, her skin was pale, and she remained trapped in a hazy space between consciousness and terrifying nightmares.
Agnijeet never left the room for long.
Every time Dilshana opened her swollen eyes through the haze of her fever, she saw him. He sat by the edge of the bed in absolute silence, changing the wet cloth on her burning forehead.
When food was brought in, he lifted her, holding the warm soup or medicinal potion to her lips, forcing her to drink every last drop before laying her back down.
He tended to her injuries without a word, cleaning her bandaged foot every evening and applying fresh herbs.
Dilshana found herself unable to pull away. The absolute terror she had felt for him began to morph into a deep confusion. He was a tyrant, a ruthless warrior who spared no one, yet here he was, silently watching over her fever through the dark hours of the night.
On the fourth evening, Dilshana's fever finally broke.
She lay inside the closed curtains of the bed, resting quietly in the dim light. Her foot no longer throbbed with pain, and her strength was slowly returning.
Agnijeet pulled back the curtain of the bed and stepped inside. He glanced down at her face, noticing the flush of health returning to her skin.
He sat down. Taking her bandaged foot into his lap, he unpinned the cotton wrappings to inspect the wound. The skin had healed into a pink scar, free of infection. Dilshana remained silent, resting her back against the headboard, watching his movements.
Agnijeet tied the new bandage, his gaze shifting up from her foot to her eyes.
"Jootiyan pehan kar bhaagi hoti... toh yeh ghaav na lagta."
(If you had run wearing shoes... you wouldn't have received this wound.)
His tone was completely flat, asking it as a cold matter of fact.
Dilshana pulled her foot back from his lap as her eyes locked onto his stoic face.
"Aap humein apne kandhe par utha kar laye the... doli mein bitha kar nahi. Jootiyan kahan hain humare paas?"
(You brought me resting on your shoulder... not seated in a palanquin. Where would I have shoes?)
Her voice broke slightly on the last word, carrying the painful weight of how she had been stripped of her dignity, and her belongings.
Agnijeet stared at her, his face an unreadable wall of stone.
He simply stood up from the bed, wiped his hands on a clean cloth, and walked out of the chamber doors.
• A Dangerous Restraint •
When morning arrived, Dilshana finished her bath and stepped into the dressing area. The cool air dried her damp skin as she draped herself in a lehenga.
Her wrists remained completely bare, and her forehead carried no sign of sindoor.
Kumud stepped into the dressing chamber alone, carrying clean towels.
Dilshana asked, turning toward her with a faint frown. "Kumud, why have you come alone today? Why has no one come for the cleaning of the chamber yet?"
Kumud paused mid-step, her hands tightening slightly around the basin. She lowered her eyes as if she were choosing her words with extreme caution.
"There is a lot of bustle in the palace today. All the handmaidens have been put to work down in the main courtyard."
Dilshana observed her carefully. "Is there something special?"
Kumud swallowed nervously, fidgeting with her dupatta before finally speaking. "Yes... Kesar bhabhi sa and Maa Saheb are busy with grand preparations today. The royal family of Suryakot is arriving at the palace, along with several other distinguished guests."
Kumud paused, a smile touching her lips as she added, "And... Kunwar sa's sister, who is married into the royal family of Suryakot, is also coming with her children."
Dilshana's hand froze for a split second as she combed her wet hair. A quiet pang hit her chest, no one had bothered to inform her about such major palace arrivals.
She thought bitterly to herself, staring at her reflection.
Why should anyone tell me?
What right do I even have? I lie to everyone in this palace every single day.
Dilshana looked down at her bare hands.
A strange realization washed over her. Today, high-ranking guests and Agnijeet's own sister were entering the palace.
If Yashodhara Devi called her out, appearing bare and unadorned would only invite more insult.
"Kumud," Dilshana said softly, meeting her eyes through the mirror. "Maa Saheb might call me to meet the guests today. It is better if I dress properly."
Kumud's face brightened with quiet relief as she turned on her heels. "You are right. I'll be back."
Dilshana took a deep breath, sitting down on the stool before the mirror. She brought pinch of sindoor to her hairline, pressing the crimson pigment neatly into her central partition.
She heard the footsteps. She kept her focus on adjusting the folds of her lehenga. "Kumud, tie the strings..."
A second later, she felt a subtle shift in the air behind her, a sudden surge of familiar warmth that made the tiny hairs on the back of her neck stand on end.
A set of calloused hands brushed her hair aside to expose her back. The rough texture of his fingertips grazed her soft skin as he caught the strings of her blouse, pulling them taut and tying them into a firm knot.
Dilshana's breath hitched. Her gaze snapped up to the mirror. Agnijeet was standing behind her.
His hair was still damp, a simple white dhoti tied low at his waist. He towered over her, his unblinking eyes locked onto her reflection.
Agnijeet's hand suddenly froze. His eyes lowered, fixing on the lines running across her upper back. It was an old, faded scars. He traced the length of a scar as his jaw tightened.
Dilshana held her breath, her eyes trapped in his through the mirror.
His touch felt raw, a burning contrast against her skin, making her heart hammer frantically against her ribs.
Dilshana swallowed hard and broke the silence, her voice soft and hesitant as she watched his eyes in the mirror.
"Aapki behan... aa rahi hain na? Aur... aur unke bachhe bhi?"
(Your sister... she is coming, right? And... and her children too?)
Agnijeet didn't answer immediately. His hand slowly slid upward, resting on the side of her neck. His thumb stroked the sensitive skin just below her jawline in a slow rhythm.
His answer was brief, cold, and utterly blunt, as usual. "Haan."
(Yes.)
Every inch of her skin tingled under his touch, her pulse racing wildly beneath his fingers.
Dilshana pressed her lips together. "Aap bachhon ko yahan le aayenge? Hum unse milna chahte hain..."
(Will you... will you bring the children here? I want to meet them...)
His dark eyes narrowed slightly in the mirror, looking straight into her soul.
"Hum bahar ja rahe hain."
(I am going out.)
The air left her lungs in an instant.
Dilshan rose from the stool, her silk lehenga sweeping against the floor as she turned to face him. She clutched the fabric at her sides.
Her eyes involuntarily tracked the tiny details: the faint beads of water clinging to his shoulders, the damp strands of hair falling over his forehead, and the terrifying stillness of his bearded jaw.
She felt small before him, trapped under the suffocating shadow of his stature. A cold knot of fear tightened in her stomach.
She raised her eyes, her green gaze locking with his brown ones. She forced a bitterness into her voice.
"Aap kab tak wapis aayenge?"
("When... when will you return?")
She didn't wait for him to absorb the question. She tilted her head, her lips curving into a taunting smile that did not reach her dark-rimmed eyes.
"Kitne din... aapke is kaale saaye se azaad rahega yeh qaidkhana?"
(For how many days... will this prison remain free of your dark shadow?)
His gaze flicked down to her bitterly smiling lips, taking in the contrast of her fragile face and the fresh sindoor in her hairline. The pulse in her throat was hammering like a trapped bird, betraying the sheer dread she felt, even as her words spat venom.
He looked into her soul, his voice dropping into that gruff rumble that sent a tremor down her spine.
"Kuch nischit nahi hai."
(Nothing is certain.)
She spat a bitter whisper under her breath. "Acha hai..." (Good...)
She turned back sharply to avoid his eyes, her sudden movement caught the earring dangling from her earlobe. The intricate lock gave way.
Before the jewel could hit the floor, his hand darted out, catching the piece mid-air. Dilshana took the earring out of his palm and whipped back toward the mirror.
She fought to align the tiny post through her earlobe. But his gaze had left her hands shaking, and the pin refused to go in.
Dilshana caught his unblinking brown eyes in the mirror. Frustration boiled over inside her. She made an irritated face, scoffing as she deliberately broke eye contact and averted her gaze.
Agnijeet stepped forward in an instant.
He held her wrist, halting her shaking fingers. He took the earring from her grasp. He spun her around, and lifted her off her feet as if she weighed nothing at all. He placed her down onto the edge of the high marble counter.
Dilshana gasped, her thighs instinctively parting around his torso as her hands landed on his shoulders to balance herself. The height difference vanished; sitting on the edge, her face was now level with his.
Agnijeet leaned in, close to the side of her head, his eyes locked onto the earlobe. He lifted the jewel, aligning the tiny pin with the piercing slowly.
Instead of using his hands, he dipped his head lower, bringing his mouth on her earlobe. Dilshana's eyes widened in sheer disbelief.
Using his front teeth, he caught the tiny metallic lock and pressed it firmly shut against the post. The lock snapped into place, immediately followed by the searing warmth of his mouth.
His breath hit her skin, his tongue dragging a deliberate stroke over the delicate shell of her ear, sucking softly.
A violent jolt shot straight down her spine. Her toes curled, and her lungs emptied in a ragged gasp as an unguarded voice escaped her. "Ahmm."
Her fingers dug into his skin, unwittingly pressing his head even closer against her ear. His hot breath blasted into her ear canal, sending goosebumps flushing across her neck and chest.
His deep, gravelly voice vibrated in a dangerous whisper close to her ear.
"Tumhein itni si baat samajh nahi aayi ab tak?"
(Have you still not understood such a small thing?)
He simply rested his nose in the nook beneath her ear, breathing in the scent of attar clinging to her skin. A ragged exhale fanned across her neck.
Dilshana shuddered, her pulse spiking violently as his beard brushed her jawline.
"Kya...?" she whispered weakly, her voice trembling, lost in the heavy thudding of her own pulse. (What?)
Slowly, Agnijeet dragged his mouth down the slope of her throat. The deliberate friction of his stubble and his warm mouth on her delicate skin sent an electric tremor straight down her spine.
Agnijeet felt her tremor and tightened his grip, sliding his palms behind her waist to pull her close. "Tumhare nakhre humare sanyam ko todte hain, Ardhangini... Humari nason mein rakt ubalne lagta hai..."
(Your defiance breaks my restraint, wife... It sets the blood boiling in my veins...)
He parted his lips and pressed a deep first kiss over her fluttering pulse point.
Every defense she had built up evaporated under the scorching weight of that single touch. Her throat felt parched, her breath coming in shallow hitches.
Dilshana's head fell back completely, her neck arching helplessly to expose the long line of her throat to his mouth. She fisted on his shoulders.
"Hum... hum nahi karenge ab..."
(I... I won't do this anymore...)
He suckled on the tender skin above her collarbone, pulling the soft flesh into his mouth until a deep mark bloomed over her skin.
"Kab tak?"
(For how long?)
He pressed firm open mouthed kisses into the soft hollow near her throat.
His lips moved with a possessive rhythm as he traced the delicate line of her jawline and dipping into the curve where her shoulder met her neck.
She reached up with both hands, tangling her fingers innocently into his damp hair. She squeezed tight, clinging to him as if he were the only solid thing keeping her from sinking.
A helpless moan spilled from her parted lips as Agnijeet dragged his trail of burning kisses back upward along the slope of her throat, behind her earlobe.
His fingers tightened further in her hair, holding her locked in place as his mouth devoured her, leaving a trail of feverish marks along her collarbone.
The sheer intensity of his grip paired with the ruthless warmth of his lips drove a wild heat straight through her blood.
Dilshana arched her back into his touch, her chest rising and falling in frantic gasps as her body surrendered completely to the intoxicating storm.
He paused, his gaze dropping to her chest. Her heavy breathing made the fire-symbol pendant of her mangalsutra rise and fall rapidly on her cleavage. He looked at the gold resting against her skin before pressing his lips to the chain at the crook of her neck.
Dilshana gasped, instinctively trying to clench her thighs together, but he stood locked between her knees, leaving her completely trapped.
"Stop..." she whimpered, letting out a soft moan that betrayed her completely.
Even as she tried to stop him verbally, her actions contradicted her words. She tightened her hands in his hair and pulled him even closer.
Agnijeet paused, lifting his head slightly to look into her half-lidded green eyes. He brushed his thumb over her flushed cheekbone.
"Dozakh ki aag mein toh tum bhi jalogi, Ardhangini..."
(You will burn in the fires of hell too, wife...)
Dilshana let out a ragged breath as she stared back, her voice barely a thread in the silence.
"Aap hi toh hain dozakh ki aag..."
(You yourself are the fire of hell...)
Agnijeet tightened his grip on her waist, leaning in to claim her neck once more.
suddenly, a tray bounced off the floor with a crash, scattering red rose petals and white champa flowers across the floor. Kumud stood frozen in the doorway, raising her hands in mid-air.
The atmosphere was dripping with a sinful heat. The proud captive girl clinging to her captor. Kumud quickly lowered her gaze as she scrambled backward.
The spell suddenly snapped. Dilshana's wide eyes locked onto Agnijeet, the sudden jolt of reality hitting her like a cold wave as she realized just how hopelessly lost she had been in his embrace.
Agnijeet pulled back from her neck without any rush or flinch. He lingered for a moment as he looked at her flushed face, her messy hair, and the mark blooming on her neck.
Her entire face and neck burned like hot coals. Her heart hammered wildly in sheer mortification and embarrassment. Trapped under his dirty gaze, she felt exposed down to her very soul. She tried to adjust her clothes and smooth down her hair.
Agnijeet moved with maddening slowness. He reached for his tunic, taking his sweet time to dress up. All the while, his eyes remained locked onto her, tracking her every movement.
Dilshana felt her shame twisting into sharp irritation. Every second he lingered felt like a torture, his eyes burning into her skin as if enjoying the chaos he had just wrought upon her defenses.
Her teeth grinded together as she kept her gaze fixed on the floor, unable to bear the scorching intensity of his eyes for another moment.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Agnijeet broke the silence. "Kisi vastu ki aavashyakta ho... toh Vishwajeet ko bata dena."
(If you need anything... tell Vishwajeet.)
Dilshana merely gave a faint nod, keeping her eyes glued to the floor as she whispered through tight lips.
"Aap jaiye na yahan se..."
(You... please leave from here...)
Agnijeet didn't offer another word. He turned on his heel and walked toward the exit with commanding strides.
He passed Kumud, who remained glued to the outer door with her eyes shut tight and her back turned. He landed a light slap on the back of her head.
"Rasta chhado."
(Move out of the way.)
Kumud rubbed the back of her head as she bolted inside the chamber, completely unable to process what she had just walked into.
Dilshana let out a sharp breath, her hands clenching tightly. She was utterly frustrated that he had treated her so intimately just moments ago, only to drop those cold words at the end as if doing her a grand favor. She wished he hadn't even bothered showing that courtesy at the last second.
And yet, her hand instinctively rose to her neck, her fingers trembling as they brushed over the burning mark his lips had left behind.
She felt her mind spinning in turmoil, completely unable to comprehend her own betrayal of her senses, her own surrender to the very man she swore to hate.
Kumud slowly tiptoed back into the dressing chamber and knelt down to pick up the tray and the flowers. A mischievous smile played on her lips.
"Kuwrani Sa. Aisa pratit hota hai ki Kunwar sa ne swayam aapka shringaar kar diya hai."
(It seems the Kunwar sa himself has adorned you.)
Dilshana snapped out of her daze. She scrambled down from the counter, frantically adjusting her drapes and pulling her loose hair forward. She avoided Kumud's twinkling eyes entirely.
Kumud stepped closer with a giggle. "Kya baatein ho rahi thi aap dono ke beech?"
(What were you two talking about?)
Dilshana had no answers to Kumud's teasing questions. The suffocating confusion in her heart twisted into explosive frustration.
"Kuch nahi ho raha tha!" Dilshana snapped, her voice trembling with intense irritation. "Us ghaliz shaitan ko toh bas doosron ko zaleel karne ka shauq hai! Us iblis par qaher barse, wo aisi aag mein jale ki raakh bhi na bache!"
(Nothing was happening! That filthy devil only enjoys humiliating others! May God's curse fall upon that cruel demon, may he burn in such fire that not even his ashes remain!)
Kumud covered her mouth with her hands, letting out a soft gasp at the curses flowing so passionately from her Dilshana's lips.
• The Whispers •
As the evening shadows lengthened, Dilshana sat alone on the edge of the bed. The grand chamber felt hollow and vast in the dimming light.
It's been a month since he had brought her here, yet, not a single soul from her own family had sent word or attempted to find her. She burned with a deep hatred for her family, but underneath it lay a grief that filled her with suppressed tears.
The door latch clicked. Kumud walked in with hesitant steps. She kept her head down and spoke in a trembling voice.
"Kuwrani Sa... the guests have arrived. Maa saheb has summoned you to her private quarters."
Dilshana stood up, smoothed down the folds of her lehenga, adjusted the veil over her hair, and followed Kumud down the corridors.
They arrived at Yashodhara Devi's chamber, a spacious hall adorned with rich silk drapes and fragrant brass incensories.
A large gathering of royal women sat on silk carpets and bolsters. Kalavati sat near the head of the room. Beside her sat Trishani. Kesar stood near Yashodhra Devi, supervising the service with her usual calm composure.
Agnijeet's younger sister, Sunaina, was seated there, a gentle-looking woman. Beside Sunaina sat her two young children, a five year old boy playing with a wooden horse and a two year old girl resting in her lap.
Next to Sunaina sat her formidable mother-in-law, Maharani Sumitra of Suryakot, draped in golden brocade.
Tucked quietly behind Maharani Sumitra sat a young woman, named Avani. She sat in an exquisite pastel silk lehenga, bowing her head slightly, while a shy blush lit her face.
Dilshana stepped into the hall, instantly drawing a silence across the room. She knew all too well, they perceived her as a woman from Sultanat-e-Shahraz, their sworn enemy, a untrustworthy outsider forced into their bloodline.
Maharani Sumitra lifted her head, slowly scanning Dilshana from her bare feet, past the bangles on her wrists, up to the subtle crimson line of sindoor in her hair. She maintained a cold edge, offering only a tight nod.
Dilshana walked forward gracefully, bowing her head respectfully to the elders.
Yashodhara Devi barely acknowledged her gesture, addressing her in a flat tone.
"Aao, Naaz. Inse milo... yeh Suryakot ki Maharani Sumitra hain, aur yeh hamari beti Sunaina."
(Come, Naaz. Meet them... this is Maharani Sumitra of Suryagadh, and this is our daughter Sunaina.)
Sunaina offered Dilshana a faint smile, holding a complex mix of sympathy and caution as she pulled her young son a fraction closer to her side.
The young boy stared at Dilshana with curious eyes, but before Dilshana could offer him a warm smile, Sumitra cleared her throat.
"Naaz," Maharani Sumitra began, her voice dripping with courtly authority. "Humne suna hai ki aap Sultanat se aayi hain. Kintu humein aapke parivar ke vishay mein koi jankari nahi mili. Aapke pita kaun hain?"
(Naaz. We have heard that you come from the Sultanate. But we have received no information regarding your family. Who is your father?)
Dilshana held her chin high, standing straight despite the piercing stares of every woman in the hall. "Humare khandaan ka koi bada naam ya shahi martaba nahi hai. Hum ek aam kaniz ki beti hain."
(My family holds no grand name or royal status. I am merely the daughter of an ordinary maidservant.)
Avani stared at Dilshana with guarded, and strangely intense eyes. She scanned Dilshana's face, taking in her striking features and skin with a subtle tension tight around her jaw. She held a quiet scrutiny, evaluating a sudden obstacle in a path she had long considered hers.
Kalavati leaned back against her bolster, a smooth smile appearing on her face. Kalavati had no intention of letting Avani marry to Agnijeet and she saw Dilshana's dangerous beauty as the perfect weapon to disrupt those plans.
"Aap vyarth hi chinta kar rahi hain, Maharani Sumitra," Kalavati spoke smoothly, her tone dripping with subtle honey. "Kul aur vansh ki baatein toh yuddh aur sandhiyon mein hoti hain. Kintu humare Senapati ne jab Naaz ko dekha, toh unhone kisi maryada ya kul ki chinta nahi ki. Dekhiye toh sahi... inka saundarya hi aisa hai ki humare kathor Senapati swayam inke moh mein dhal gaye."
(You worry unnecessarily, Maharani Sumitra. Matters of lineage and clan belong to wars and treaties. But when our Commander saw Naaz, he did not care for traditions or status. Look at her... her beauty is such that our stern Commander himself succumbed to madness for her.)
Kalavati's subtle words struck the room like a hidden blade. She deliberately highlighted Dilshana's captivating beauty and framed the marriage as Agnijeet's uncontrollable passion.
Maharani Sumitra's face hardened into a stiff mask, while Avani lowered her gaze.
Yashodhara Devi raised her hand sharply, her face turning thunderous as she shut Kalavati down before the conversation could escalate any further.
"Aisi vyarth baaton ka is sabha mein koi sthaan nahi hai, Kalavati. Sab jante hai Agnijeet ne ye vivah kyu kiya hai."
(Such meaningless talk has no place in this assembly, Kalavati. Everyone knows why Agnijeet entered this marriage.)
She then turned her detached gaze back onto Dilshana, waving her hand.
"Tum ja sakti ho, Naaz."
(You may go, Naaz.)
Dilshana turned around and walked out of the grand chamber. As the archways closed behind her, Dilshana realized clearly that they had not summoned her to welcome her as a daughter-in-law. They had brought her out merely to observe her.
She craved the chill of the open air. She turned to Kumud walking beside her. "Hum thodi der shahi baghiche mein baithna chahte hain, Kumud. Bas thodi khuli hawa chahiye."
(I want to sit in the royal garden for a while, Kumud. I just need some open air.)
Kumud nodded silently, stepping back to let the accompanying maids follow at a respectful distance.
Dilshana paused, looking closely at Kumud's troubled face.
"Kumud... kya baat hai? Tum aaj itni khamosh kyon ho? Kuch hua hai kya?"
(Kumud... what is the matter? Why are you so silent today? Has something happened?)
Kumud lowered her eyes, forcing a faint, polite tone. "Nahi, aisa kuch nahi hai."
(No, it is nothing like that.)
They walked down the steps into the royal garden. The evening breeze carried the cool scent of flowers. Dilshana sat on a bench beside a lotus pond, watching the ripples on the water for what felt like hours.
Presently, footsteps echoed along the gravel path.
Kesar and Trishani approached the garden pavilion, accompanied by Sunaina and her two children.
They were taking an evening stroll, their silk skirts rustling against the grass. They walked toward the nearby stone seats, settling down close by.
Sunaina adjusted her veil, glancing around the empty courtyard before speaking up. "Bhai sa kahaan chale gaye? Unhein pata nahi tha ki hum aane wale hain."
(Where did Brother go? Didn't he knew that I was arriving today.)
Kesar adjusted her veil, her voice calm and even. "Aapko toh unki aadat pata hi hai, Sunaina. Unhein jab kam hota hai, wo bina kuch kahe nikal jaate hain."
(You know his nature, Sunaina. When he has work, he leaves without saying a word.)
Trishani sat quietly beside them, her hands resting in her lap, her eyes fixed on the lotus pond. She looked somewhat heavy-hearted, though her stance toward Dilshana remained distant, bound by the unwritten rules.
Sunaina smiled gently, looking toward Kesar. "Toh phir jaldi hi Kulguru se milkar shubh muhurat nikalwaate hain. Avani aur Bhai sa ka vivah jitna shighr ho, utna accha hai."
(Then we should meet the family priest soon and fix an auspicious date. The sooner Brother and Avani get married, the better it is.)
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