Cittaja || Indian Historical Romance

26.

"Maharaj, Patrani ordered the burning of all Rajkumari Mayurakshi's clothes," informed the general, Madhav Rao, King Gokula's younger brother.

Gokula sighed.

"Why is she such a stubborn girl?"

"Because she is like Vadina was when she came here married to you. Vadina was willing to fight for you, and when she realized you did nothing to support her in the fight, she stopped fighting and left. Mayurakshi is just as stubborn and fights for your love."

"She is a fool. If she knows Raashi, then she knows what could happen to her. She should know better than to challenge her. Mayurakshi should know what could happen to her."

"Your child wants love from you, Maharaj. The day she stops, that day you will be all alone, and no one will come to save you from the vultures. You do nothing for those who are willing to lay down their life for you. You were the one who sent Vadina away."

The words from his younger sibling pierced his heart, but Gokula got up and went to find Mayurakshi. She was in her maid's clothes, feeding the ducks in the ponds. Her hair was left open, her maids standing behind her. None of them saying a word to each other. The only audible sound was the quack of the ducks and the splashing of water. 

"You should be smart enough to know that you should stay away from Shakrajit."

"I don't see how you'll eliminate him from far away."

Mayurakshi was in a sour mood if she didn't instantly get happy seeing him and start showing him what all she did.

He moved his sword with the swiftness of the wind. His muscles were all set in a specific position. Ever so slightly, the stomach extended below his belly button. His arms were shaped in accordance with how much he used his sword.

When he ran, the boots made a warning sound. They could be audible more clearly on stone or marble. His hunting dogs knew the order even with the sound of his boots.

The way he takes off his angavatra and ties it around his waist. A cloth is twisted around his head. A typical bratty way in which he stretches his arms, even if he is in disguise. It wasn't easy to figure him out as such, but careful observation had certain things visible about him.

Though he disguises as a common man, he still sits like a Prince. It almost comes off as a man who is full of pride.

He generally ignores any women touching. He doesn't care even if they are touching him. He can continue his word unaffected.

Shakra was the man born for the Crown.

She was still staring into the little pond water. Gokula felt horrible that his daughter wore the clothes belonging to her maid.

"I'll send Tarun to refill your trunk with clothes. Stay away from Shakra, Mayurakshi."

As Mayurakshi turned to face him, her gaze met King Gokula's, and in that fleeting moment, the intricacies of her emotions were laid bare. Despite her enigmatic demeanor, there was always a certain vulnerability, like a delicate veil, that she draped before her father.

"What have I ever done, Nanna? In what way am I less than Akka? Did I learn less? Did I support you less? Tell me, Nanna. Why is it that every thing that I try to do to make you feel that I'm just as much as Akka, you come and claim that I don't need to do it? Only because Akka doesn't like me doing it." She questioned.

"Don't ask me questions, Mayurakshi. Just do as I say. Leave him alone. Your sister is interested in Shakra. Do not involve yourself."

Mayurakshi sighed and looked away from him, "I don't want those clothes then. I'm happier in these ones."

"Mayurak-"

She got up and walked away from Gokula. It was clear why she didn't fear anything else. When someone's own father breaks their heart, they don't fear anything else. What did she have to lose? She never owned anything in the first place.

"You even tire her, Maharaj. And I know for a fact that Mayura is more determined than Vadina. You're beginning to tire her also." Madhav Rao pointed out to his King. Madhava Rao and Gokula had long ago broken that bond of being brothers. Even if it hurt Gokula that his younger brother had essentially stopped addressing him as Annaiya, he didn't say anything or try to repair it. Their relationship was beyond repair already.

"I don't want her doing anything silly. Keep an eye on her. Make sure she doesn't meet Shakra."

"When you have said it, she will stop. She hardly tries to transgress you of the fear of becoming less dear to you." He said and then left Gokula in the room alone.

Rekha who had appeared at the lake a while ago, sitting at the other spot, inconspicuously observed them. In the time she has spent here, she often found herself having a little soft spot for Mayurakshi. She was the Princess who wasn't too troublesome. People often approached her without hesitation. That was the reputation she made for herself.

Yet, Mayurakshi had her own problems filling her. Though Rekha had a deep-seated feeling that Shakra was perhaps the good thing in Mayurakshi's life. Rekha felt terrible about how much she struggled with her father, but she knew a secret.

King Gokula had one love. Madalasa. Mayurakshi's mother. His third wife. His second wife Niti was killed by Raashi because she was threatened by them. When things got so much worse, scared of threats from Raashi, Gokula sent Madalasa away. Every time he saw Mayurakshi, he was reminded of her mother. That is why he always pretended to be less liking of Mayurakshi.

Mayurakshi truly felt like a threat to Raashi, and hence she bullies her. Raashi never stops doubting that Gokula might suddenly side with her and cast them aside. Hence, she sought to bully Mayurakshi and make her comply.

It was Mayurakshi's nature not to be easily terrified and to stand her ground stiff. She was persistent. That was what made her different.

She feared, she had second thoughts, she felt disheartened, and she even felt devastated but never did she back down.

That part of her was what called to Shakra. A man of his caliber always seeks a woman who is persistent and bold enough to keep trying to do what she feared. 

Because a man of his kind can only be attracted to true courage. True courage is fearing the result but still going through the process. 

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Finally finished my exams, so I'll try to update more often now.

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