Aradhya wandered in the hallways of the palace, utter embarrassment on her face. She had walked out of the room after Vihaan had chosen to not even acknowledge what she said. And somehow she was grateful that he didn't believe it.
She facepalmed herself. "What is wrong with you, Aradhya? Where did that even come from?" She asked herself and sighed
And as she did walk aimlessly she regretted her decision of walking out of the room. She saw Tamasvini walking at her with the same eyes do the devil she knew.
"Hey, Aradhya." She said timidly. Almost seeming innocent. Aradhya raised her brow at her.
"What?" Aradhya retorted.
"Why are you so rude? I was just coming to talk to you."
"There is nothing to talk about. Just go away."
"I'm sorry. I know we don't have the best relationship but I'd like to change that."
"Don't," Aradhya hesitated, "don't pretend to change, Tamasvini. I know for a fact you are here with a plan of your own. Just stay away from me."
"Aradhya!" A strong voice commanded. Aradhya turned around to see Rajmata standing there with a furious look on her face. She walked up to Aradhya and stood with a powerful commanding pose.
"Is that how you treat your sister?"
Aradhya tried to explain but there was no explanation for what Rajmata had witnessed but Aradhya being cold to Tamasvini. Aradhya couldn't just tell her whole past to her.
"No, Ma, I...just..."
"I don't care whatever history you two have. You should be more considerate towards her."
"Yes, Ma I understand but I know her better than you do. I know how evil she was, is and will be."
Rajmata was startled at her response. She glared holes through Aradhya.
"People change, Aradhya. You were just as worse when you were first here weren't you? You tried to kill Vihaan. I can deem you just as bad too."
Aradhya held back her feelings. She had now already ruined her image before Rajmata and she knew that if she spoke more she would become the bad one in her eyes.
.  .  .  .
"She couldn't have possibly said that as a joke Vihaan. Oh my God. How are you so foolish?" Rihit set his cup down while Vihaan downed the entire chalice of his drink.
"This is too much right now. I can't think about all this. I can't think about the sister of the woman who I married today telling me that she likes me."
"Why not? You should be more than happy about that. You'll never find one like her again. Ever."
"I king should not love," Vihaan said, almost a sting in his words even though his mind was drunk. "It makes you weak. Love makes fools of us all. It's not worth the risk."
"Are you sure?"
"Of course, I am. I want to love. But that isn't going to be possible. I am a king. I gave myself to this kingdom before her. I am this kingdom's person before hers. Love makes fools of us all, Rihit."
Rihit smiled to himself. He thought, "A drunk mind really does speak sober thoughts."
"You know, Vihaan? it sometimes feels good to be fooled."
"Even if it feels good it doesn't do good Rihit. Don't think of ever saying that again," Vihaan took a deep breath, "as much as I want to understand what I feel or what she feels, I think it's better for me to just not ever acknowledge whatever is between us."
.  .  .  .
"I did and he just ignored it like an idiot," Aradhya murmured. Rihit chuckled and sat across the table with her.
"Did you mean it?"
"Of course...I don't know. I never even intended on saying that to him. He is a complete fool. I don't even know where or how those words came out of my mouth."
"Hey, calm down. It's not something to overthink about. You just said what you were feeling at that moment. It happens."
"It's not, Rihit. I have never once told anyone I like them in my whole life. Not even to Amar. And this man, even after I shouted it at his face he turned away."
Rihit looked at Aradhya who went on rambling about what happened and all. A warm emotion spread in his eyes. The way he looked at her was the way he looked at just one other person in his entire life. Though he didn't realise who it was or how he was feeling, he knew, in his gut, this was the relationship he would relish for the longest of times with utmost care and responsibility.
"Are you listening?"
"I am and I just want to tell you something. Vihaan doesn't do well with all these, let's say, affairs of the heart. He thinks love is the biggest weakness."
Aradhya stayed quiet for a while. She then again looked him dead in the eye and said, "I don't want him to love me or anything. As I said I've stopped having expectations. I just wanted a response. I just wanted him to know...that I...appreciated him."
"He knows. He knows how much you appreciate him and he appreciates you twice more than anyone else. I've witnessed it."
Rihit looked out of the window to see the night growing. He stood up and straightened his clothes.
"I'll get going. And don't get into more fights with Rajmata or Tamasvini." He said and walked out of the room after shooting a smirk at Aradhya.
.  .  .  .
Aradhya had somehow gotten over that fact. It had been almost a week since everything went down. Aradhya had been ignoring Vihaan, Tamasvini and Rajmata. She knew Vihaan was offset by her behaviour but she still didn't budge.
Sadhana had forgiven Vihaan about Tamasvini's issue and so had everyone else. And Aradhya didn't quite know if she had or had not forgiven him. She didn't even know if she was, in fact, mad at him. She had just gone back to how she used to be in Shiladhika.
She took care of Darsh and Sadhana, kept Rihit and Nandini's relationship a secret and took care of the court assemblies. She was in the good graces of Acharya and was also on the verge of being accepted by the subjects of Ashokdhar.
Aradhya had been alone for a week in their bedroom as Vihaan was supposed to stay with Tamasvini for a few days after they were married. Aradhya stood at her dresser taking off her ornaments and getting ready for bed when he heard the door to the room open. Vihaan stood there almost leaning on nothing but the doorframe for support. Literally, not even his feet.
Aradhya rushed over to him and rolled her eyes. She knelt and helped him get up.
"You've become quite the drunkard from the past three days."
He was awfully silent. He spoke not a word. It was weird to Aradhya. He would go to any lengths to prove himself. Even if he is drunk. Aradhya let out a sigh seeing him looking down at his feet as he say on the bed, leaning against the bed frame.
There was a defeated look in his eyes. An empty emotion. The longer Aradhya looked into his eyes the more concerned she became. Aradhya cautiously sat down before him only a couple of feet away.
Vihaan looked up at her. That was the face he wanted to see. He was a bit grateful that even though he was drunk his mind brought him to the person he needed then.
"What's wrong?" Aradhya asked. She saw Vihaan's eyes glisten.
"I miss my father... Aradhya. It's been five years since I last saw him."
Aradhya's breath stopped for a second. It was th first time he brought up his father before her. It was the first time he seemed vulnerable to her.
She leaned over and took his hands in hers. She gave them a warm squeeze. She felt her loss in his words. She felt Vikram's loss more than being away from Aagneya.
"It's just one of those nights...when you feel the loss more painfully. It's okay Vihaan. You'll be fine." Aradhya talked to him with evident comfort in her tone. A single tear dropped from Vihaan's eyes.
"He used to bring me to the pond outside the kingdom every weekend. He used to cook for me, Nandini and Ma. He always told me that I have to be the best king after he passes away. But I didn't know then, that he was going away so soon." Vihaan's tears slowly turned into cries. They became more desperate.
Aradhya shot him a sad smile. She reluctantly laid a hand on his shoulder. Vihaan leaned into her touch. Even in his unstable state of mind, Vihaan knew he felt comfort. He knew just her presence gave him comfort.
He had spoken to Sadhana about the same matter many times but never was he this desperate or vulnerable. He always spoke about his father in a way where he showed his disappointment at his father. This was the first time in his life, that he had ever spoken to someone about how much he missed him.
"I know. You were nineteen when you lost him. It's completely normal for you to feel what you're feeling now. I've been there. Letting people see the real side of you is more reliable than bottling up your feelings."
Vihaan stayed quiet. The grave silence was back. Aradhya sighed and was about to pull her hands away when Vihaan held them. He seemed as though he bowed to her. Aradhya looked bewildered. She wasn't quite able to understand what was going on.
"I-I am sorry," Vihaan spoke.
"What are you asking sorry for?"
"I'm really sorry for...Vikram."
Vihaan felt Aradhya's hands stiffen at his words. He felt the pain just as her hand slipped away from his'. But he didn't mind. He wanted everything heavy in his heart to come out.
"I know I was selfish. I was illogical. I was a total snake to your family. I killed your brother. Broke your wedding..."
Aradhya abruptly stood up, disturbed by his words. She was disturbed by both Vihaan calling himself a snake and also by him mentioning her family. Aradhya's breath was shallower. She walked away to the dresser and continued taking off her ornaments.
Vihaan tailed her. He did not mind her space. Aradhya turned around to just be trapped between him and her dresser. There was almost no space between them.
"Vi-Vihaan...back off. You're standing really close to me." Aradhya uttered trying to get him to back off. She pushed him back lightly keeping in mind his groggy state of mind.
"I was nothing but a pain to you. The person who is the manifestation of your pain. The person who took away your life, your brother from you," Vihaan leaned in, "I was the one who forced you to burn your hands, I was the one who forcefully married you."
Aradhya leaned back. The mild scent of intoxication from his mouth was all that she could smell.
Vihaan seemed more demandant to her. He seemed more like the person who wanted answers. He had a raw fire in his eyes. A fire that she hadn't seen before.
Vihaan's arm snaked around her pulling her close. But surprisingly, Aradhya's heart didn't race. Maybe because she knew, he will regret this tomorrow. She knew people always regretted what they did when they were drunk.
"I was the one...who is the absolute manifestation of your pain..." Vihaan leaned in until his lips were just inches away from Aradhya's ears.
"Then why...do you like me?"
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