THE CONQUEROR'S CAPTIVE

MEERA

Surabhi's POV

"No way!! I am not sending you anywhere"

"But, Maharaj-"

"It's Bhargav for you and no. I am not allowing you to leave this palace even for an hour"

"You don't have to allow me. I'm just informing you that I'll be going"

"I'll stand my whole army in front of each entrance and exit of the palace but you are not going anywhere. That's it"

"I've been here for six months already and not once have I stepped out of this palace. I have a life too. Let me live it. Moreover, I'll be gone for just a few weeks"

"Do you even hear yourself? How do you even think I will be able to live here without any problems arising every five minutes without you?"

"I am not your wife, Maharaj!!! And you are no baby! You are a king, for god's sake"

"I don't care if you are my wife or not. I won't send you anywhere that's it. And, for the last time, it's Bhargav for you. Stop calling me Maharaj"

I was panting because of all the walking I had been doing behind him as he walked around his chamber to get dressed up.

"I'll stay within the kingdom, Maharaj. I'll be back even before you know it. And I'll appoint someone to take care of your needs-"

"No one knows what I want like you do, Surabhi. They will just mess up everything and create a disaster", he stood in front of me, showing me the final look and I looked for anything wrong in his appearance. The pleats of his upper shawl were not properly set making it look crumpled. I started to set it properly making sure it didn't lose it flatness.

"Then get married. Your wife will take care of everything for you", I said while working on the pleats. He was quiet for a few moments and I was grateful for it as I could work on the shawl in some silence.

"Marry me then", my eyes snapped up to his and I asked in disbelief, "What??", he just nodded while acting like setting his hair in the mirror, "Yes. Marry me and then you will have no problem in taking care of me", I looked at him in disbelief and once he looked at me I hit his arms jokingly making him laugh. "Don't joke around with serious topics like that", I warned him but he laughed at me while he looked at me through the mirror.

"Maharaj, I'm not going for a vacation. I will go there and check for any needs they have in that region and come back to inform you about it"

"I have many messengers for that, dear Surabhi. You don't have to stress yourself out for my kingdom"

I sighed and decided to use the last card I had with me. "You made me your Royal Adviser, Maharaj. I should know what to advise you when it comes to the kingdom's matters. It is very important for me". He turned towards me and said, "We don't have time for all this. We'll discuss this in the evening", he said and walked out of the chamber. I sat on the couch feeling tired and a little frustrated. Maharaj was so stubborn. No matter how many times I told him about my plan to find the Pink Palace, he would not listen. He only cared about keeping me safe inside the palace walls. But I could not stay still. My heart was restless.

The Pink Palace was more than just a place for me. Even though it was reduced to nothing a long time ago. It held stories from long ago too. Finding even a small part of it would help me understand so much about the late queen who Guru Ji believes I am a reincarnation of.

Still, I worried. What would Maharaj do if I left without telling him? The guards would stop me. The palace would be in chaos. But I also knew I could not live my life like this, trapped and afraid. I had a duty as the Royal Adviser, but I also had a new responsibility and a lot of burning questions in my mind.