The Peculiar Case: Chapter 20

I am thinking of participating in Wattys 2020 😊😊

I don't know if I can finish this book by September 30 but still, I will try.

But I need help from all you

Since I am not doing the proofread thing, if you find any spelling mistakes or grammatical mistakes while reading, then please point it out by doing an inline comment so that I can correct my mistakes.

I hope you will help this little sister *puffs cheeks* *pouts*

Lavanya opened her eyes slowly when the sweet chirping sound of birds reached her ears. A smile formed on her face when her eyes gazed on a small yellowish-beige colored bird with a red tail that was sitting on the big window in her room and was chirping merrily. Feeling a little pressure on both of her hands, she turned her head to the left and then right only to find Akshara and Saanvi were sleeping peacefully. She gently removed her hand on which Akshara's head rested and adjusted a pillow beneath the latter's head without disturbing her sleep before turning towards Saanvi to do the same. Getting off the bed, Lavanya walked towards the window to have a clear look at the sky.

The sky was dark while a chilliness prevailed in the light breeze which clearly showed that there were still a few hours left for the sunrise. She closed her eyes and let the breeze caress her face. Her lips stretched into a gentle smile when she remembered how she used to sit beside a river while enjoying the gentle breeze with her mother. Her eyes flutter open when she suddenly remembered something.

Akshara needs to leave before sunrise otherwise unnecessary problems will arise. Lavanya glanced at her sister who was sleeping peacefully. Walking towards her sister, Lavanya gently called her name, trying to wake her up.

"Akshara, wake up." Lavanya gently shook Akshara, making the latter opened her eyes slowly.

"Sister...I want to sleep more." Akshara whined in a sleepy voice. She was about to turn to her other side, Lavanya put her palm on the side so that Akshara wouldn't snuggle into the pillow.

"Shhh...don't be so loud. Saanvi is sleeping." Lavanya whispered as she glanced at Saanvi, making sure that she was sleeping.

Listening to the name Saanvi, Akshara seemed to remember that she wasn't in her house but in the royal palace. Sitting up with a jerk, she looked at her side to see Saanvi was sleeping peacefully. She looked at her sister with wide eyes while the latter chuckled a bit at Akshara's shocked expressions.

"Akshara, you need to leave before the sun rises," Lavanya said while helping Akshara to get out of the bed. "If prince Virendra sees you, then I am so done."

"Mn." Akshara nodded while wrapping the free end of her pallu around her waist tightly so that she could easily jump without stumbling. "Sister, is prince Virendra mistreating you?" She asked while wrapping a cloth around her face leaving her eyes so that no one could recognize her.

"It's nothing like that," Lavanya said while walking towards the window. "Our marriage happened without our consent. So it will need some time to adjust ourselves in this relation."

"But sister, he is your childhood friend." Akshara looked at Lavanya expecting something better from her.

"He was my friend, Akshara. It was the past." Lavanya let out a deep breath and gazed at her sister before continuing in a monotonous tone. "Things have changed now. He is the God of War and one of the most heartless warriors of times. How can you expect something sweet and romantic from him?"

"But sister..."

"Back then he never used harsh words against me. I agree that we quarreled a lot but he never talked rudely with me. He always used to talk sweetly at the end of the day." Lavanya closed her eyes while her brows got knitted together forming a slight frown, showing hints of sadness on her face. "But that day, the way he talked to me, it completely proved that he isn't the same Virendra whom I knew for years. He is complete a new person whom I have never seen before."

"What did he do to you?" Akshara asked in a grim voice while holding her sister's arms, making the latter look at her.

"Nothing." Lavanya shook her head, trying to hide the first night's incident from her.

"Sister, don't hide from me otherwise I am going to confront prince Virendra."

"Akshara!" Lavanya at once looked at Akshara sharply. "Don't you dare!" She said in a low stoic tone, warning her sister.

"Then tell me what had happened?" Akshara said casually while trying to hide the swelling anger.

"He talked rudely with me. That's it." Lavanya uttered before averting her gaze to the dark sky. "I think its time for you to leave."

"Sister, aren't you happy here?" Akshara's voice trembled a bit, looking remorsefully at her sister.

"I am happy here Akshara." Lavanya forced a smile. "See, Saanvi and Karthik treat me so well. Even the Queen asked me to call her mother. What else do I need?" She walked towards her sister and cupped her face gently. "Don't worry about me. Your sister isn't a weak girl. She will manage everything." She smiled a bit which clearly depicted a lot of hidden emotions and truths while her voice trembled.

Tears swelled in Akshara's eyes as she realized that her sister wouldn't talk about those hidden truths no matter how hard she had to try. "Sister..." She immediately circled her arms around her sister and hugged her tightly.

"My little girl." Lavanya encircled her arms around her sister, hugging her tightly while stroking her sister's hair gently. She broke the hug after some time and cupped her sister's face gently. "Take care of father and yourself, alright?"

"Mn." Akshara nodded like an obedient girl.

Lavanya smiled and walked towards a huge trunk. Opening the trunk, she took out a thick rope. She held the rope in her hands and stretched it with all her might, checking its tensile strength. When she felt that it had good tensile strength, she extended her hand to Akshara.

"Take this rope." She looked at Akshara before averting her gaze to the rope.

"Thank you." Akshara smiled.

She tied one end of the rope to a rigid object and threw the other end down the window. She turned towards her sister and smiled before climbing down the window. Once she had climbed down the window, Lavanya untied the rope and threw it so that Akshara could catch the rope. When she felt that Akshara was safe and she could easily escape from the palace, she let out a deep breath and walked towards the couch.

Just then Jyotimani who was sleeping on another couch woke up.

"Princess!" Jyotimani's eyes widened when she see Lavanya was sitting on the couch and Akshara was missing from the bed. "W-where is your sister?"

"Shh...speak in a low voice. Saanvi is sleeping." Lavanya whispered. "Akshara had already left. Can you prepare a warm bath for me? The sun is about to rise. Today will be my first day in the royal court."

"It looks like the princess is so excited." Jyoti chuckled while getting up from the couch.

"Let her sleep," Lavanya said while twisting her long braid to make a bun.

"As you wish, your highness." Jyotimani smiled and went to prepare a bath.

"Sister-in-law..." Saanvi groaned when her sweet sleep was disturbed due to the sound of Lavanya's anklets.

"Ha? Did I disturb your sleep?" Lavanya averted her gaze to Saanvi while preparing a thali for puja

"When did you wake up? It looks like the sun just rose." Saanvi asked while lifting her body using her elbows. She turned her to the side only to find Akshara was missing from the room.  "Where is Akshara?" She immediately looked at her sister-in-law with wide eyes.

"She already left." Lavanya replied casually. "If anyone finds her in this palace, then problems would arise. Sorry for that, Saanvi."

"It's okay sister-in-law," Saanvi replied in a gloomy voice. "But...when did you wake up?"

"I woke up before the sunrise," Lavanya replied while putting a kalash full of water on the thali.

"What are you doing sister-in-law?" Saanvi got down from the bed and walked towards Lavanya. "You are just wearing a plain saree with few bangles and only mangalsutra around your neck. Why aren't you wearing jewelry?"

"I will put on all the jewelry once I return after performing puja." Lavanya smiled. "I think you should fresh up too."

"Yes. I need to practice playing my sitar as well." Saanvi replied cheerfully. "I will take my leave then."

Saanvi bowed to Lavanya before leaving the room. Lavanya smiled while Jyoti brought some of the essential items for the puja. After arranging the thali, she went to the mandir (worship room) to perform puja of her favorite deity - Lord Shiva.

After performing her puja, she returned to her room and Jyotimani helped her to put on all the jewelry. Though Jyotimani selected heavy jewelry for Lavanya saying that it was her first day in court so she should look beautiful and presentable but Lavanya chose some simple jewelry which included simple golden bangles, a mangtika, nosepin, simple earrings, a golden waistband matching with her yellow saree, a necklace set along with the mangalsutra. According to her, she was going to attend a court, so she didn't need to wear heavy jewelry.

Jyotimani didn't argue back since she understood that once Lavanya decided something, no one could stop her. So she just nodded and smiled, admiring how beautiful and elegant her princess looked even in simple jewelry.

At the royal darbar, all the courtiers had already arrived. Both the princes took their seats on the royal chairs. Saanvi slowly entered the court as took her seat on the left side of the King's throne. As Lavanya set her foot in the royal court, every courtier gazed at her, admiring how powerful she looked even in the simple attire. Keeping her head up with a straight body posture, she walked elegantly towards her seat, giving off mighty queen vibes. Saanvi smiled at her sister-in-law while the latter smiled back before taking her seat beside Saanvi.

Suddenly the arrival of the King and the Queen was announced and everyone present in the court stood up. The queen was wearing a heavy silk saree with heavy jewelry that correctly matched her strong personality and a long light colored dupatta was hanging freely from her bun which was ornated with golden jewelry and pink flowers. The King walked in a majestic way which clearly showed how powerful he was while his designed silk kurta with the dhoti along with some exotic pearl jewelry added more to his powerful aura. After the King and the Queen sat on their royal thrones, everyone took their seats.

The guard informed that some people were waiting outside as they want justice regarding something. With the King's permission, a young married couple, mother of the man who seemed like she was around mid-40s, and an elderly lady doctor entered the darbar hall.

The King looked at the four persons without saying anything, hinting them to start speaking. Understanding the situation, the mother of the man spoke.

"Your majesty, my daughter-in-law is pregnant and she is showing all the symptoms of pregnancy since last week. But my son hasn't even touched her." The man's mother said in a crying tone. "Then it only means that she has an affair with someone else."

"It's not true, Your Majesty!" The daughter-in-law's protested with trembling voice while tears spilled down her cheeks. "I have never cheated on my husband. I love him so much that I can't even think of any other man."

"Then are you saying that the doctor is lying?" The man's mother shouted. "Are you more intelligent than her?"

"Silence!" The King said in an authoritative voice and the next moment, the entire darbar hall was engulfed by silence. When the King felt that everyone obeyed his command, he averted his gaze to the female doctor.

"Vaidh ji (doctor), is she speaking the truth?" The King asked while his gaze rested on the doctor.

"Yes, Your Majesty." The last doctor replied in a confident tone. "I have checked the health of her daughter-in-law and she is showing all the symptoms of pregnancy. It shows that she is pregnant since a few weeks."

"See, your majesty! A few weeks back my son went abroad for some work and when he returned, she is showing symptoms of pregnancy." The young man's mother glared at her daughter-in-law with eyes full of hatred.

"Your Majesty, please, believe me, I haven't let anyone touch me besides my husband." The young man's wife folded her hands while looking at the king helplessly. "I don't know why this is happening. But I swear on Mahadev that I never let anyone touch me other than my husband."

"Young man, what is your opinion about this matter?" The King averted his gaze at the young man who was standing there with his head hung down all the time.

"Your Majesty, I trust my wife but this evidence is making me doubt her." The young man replied in a dismal voice.

"That's why I told you not to marry that girl. I even objected when you said you will marry her since she was your lover. If she can trap you then she can trap anyone!" The woman sneered while the young man's wife was crying silently.

"Minister Kashyap, what's your opinion regarding this case?" The King looked at his right side where one of his most trusted ministers was sitting.

"Your Majesty..." Minister Kashyap bowed to the King before continuing. "I have never heard about faking a pregnancy. Moreover, vaidh ji is also saying that she checked the woman's health and confirmed her pregnancy. I think we should listen to vaidh ji."

"Minister Ramlal, what's your opinion?" The King asked another minister.

"I agree with minister Kashyap, Your Majesty." Minister Ramlal bowed to the king.

A frown formed on Lavanya's face as she was listening to each and every word clearly. Her tears and her eyes are clearing showing that she isn't lying and she is helpless but vaidh ji is so confident about her statement. How can someone be so sure about her statement? Her mother-in-law hates her even before her marriage. Lavanya bit her lower lip, trying to figure out what actually was happening. Something is fishy...something is greatly fishy! We cannot take any decision today otherwise injustice will happen for sure.

On the other hand, Virendra was lost in deep thoughts while his fingers rested under his chin. Why do I feel that the woman is telling the truth. How can vaidh ji be so confident about her statement? How can a person be so sure when controversy always exists in the world? Something is wrong here. The King shouldn't take his decision today or something wrong will happen for sure.

"Your Majesty-"

Lavanya and Virendra stopped and abruptly looked at each other with startled facial expressions as they stood up together at the same time and said in unison. Lavanya immediately averted her gaze and looked down while Virendra looked away from her.

A very faint unnoticeable smile appeared on the King's face. "Prince Virendra and Princess Lavanya, I give you a time of one day. Both of you need to solve this case by tomorrow." The King said in his majestic voice.

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Lavanya and Virendra bowed to the King before taking their seats.

"So for today, the court is dismissed. Tomorrow the final statement will be given." The King said as he stood up, followed by everyone present in the court. He walked out of the room and everyone left the hall as well.

I must solve this case by tomorrow. Lavanya took a deep breath before leaving the room.

Virendra who left the room before Lavanya, walked straight to his chambers. We must find a solution to this case by tomorrow. He took a deep breath before sitting on the couch.

2676 words...