𝕿𝖍𝖊 𝕮𝖗𝖎𝖒𝖘𝖔𝖓 𝕮𝖗𝖔𝖜𝖓. (COMPLETED)
32. 𝕸𝖆𝖍𝖆𝖗𝖆𝖓𝖎 𝕾𝖆.
32. MAHARANI SA.
Siya ~
Arjun slowly started walking towards me and I could feel his eyes on me as I continued to fidget with the end of my dupatta.
He then stood in front of me for a moment before, once again, sitting on a knee in front of me, taking something out of his pocket.
" Arjun what are you doing?" I asked, trying to stand up but he kept his hands on my knees, forbidding me from getting out of my seat at all.
He had a pair of payal in his left hand and with his other hand, he reached out, fingers warm and reassuring, as he tenderly lifted my leg and placed it on his thigh.
" Ranaji....I can....." The proximity sent a shiver down my spine, my breath catching in my throat. I watched, almost spellbound, as his movements were deliberate yet gentle, his focus solely on me.
The touch of his fingers against my skin was electric, a sensation that spread warmth through every fiber of my being. His hands brushed my ankles, igniting a fire of awareness that surged through me. I could feel my heart racing, its rhythm echoing in my ears as though it was keeping pace with his every touch.
As the payal settled into place, its trinkets tinkling like a soft, melodic whisper, Arjun's eyes finally met mine and neither of us wanted to look away, at all. I found myself incapable of looking anywhere else other than him.
Arjun rose slowly, keeping my feet back on the ground and his fingers lingering on my ankle for a heartbeat longer than necessary and I found a blush creeping slowly on my cheeks and I stood with with.
My heartbeat quickened as he reached for the sindoor box placed delicately on the dresser and as Arjun opened the box, my breath was caught in my throat. This was perhaps only the first time this meant a huge lot of deal to me. Even when he filled my maang on Holi, there was something missing but today, well, today was different. Weird, yes but different as he took a pinch of sindoor between his thumb and index finger.
With a playful glint in his eyes, Arjun reached out and gently brushed his finger against my forehead, filling my maang with the sindoor.
My breath hitched, a rush of warmth flooding my cheeks as I felt the soft caress of his touch. The sensation was both electrifying and intimate, sending a wave of tingles down my spine and I found my hand clutching the jacket of his suit.
Ranaji's fingers lingered for a moment longer than necessary, a mischievous smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "There," he said softly, his voice a velvet caress, "now the world knows that I am yours."
" You're mine?" I repeated his words like a dumbo in a tone of surprise and a small laugh emerged, a real one. One of those rare real ones I could get out of him.
" Come here." He held me softly by my shoulders and bent his forehead to my maang, pressing my forehead to his, between his eyebrows as he held us there for a second before distancing himself away for me to see.
My sindoor was on his forehead as a tilak and then he turned me around to look at the mirror and looked at me through it.
" If this does not tell you that I am all yours, I don't know what will." His words hit me like an arrow and I turned around again, to look at him, and threw my arms around his shoulders, tip-toeing as he wrapped his arms around my waist, kissing my right temple.
" Shouldn't you be getting ready too?" I asked after a few moments, getting away and fixed his tilak into a proper one.
" Should I bother to? No one is going to be looking at me." My husband was flirting with me and I had no freaking idea how to respond to that!
" Stop flirting with me Arjun!" I said, turning back to the mirror, trying to fix my already fixed necklace just for the sake of doing something other than looking at him.
" It is not flirting if it is the truth, Little Flower." He replied, making me blush for perhaps the thousandth time today!
" Stop stop stop Ranaji." I turned again to glare at him but who was I kidding? There was no chance I was looking or sounding stern. I was a mess for crying out loud!
" I don't think so Raanisa." This was the second time he had called me that and there was a whole lot of animal kingdom rolling down the mountain inside my stomach as he pulled me closer to himself. Our faces were inches away from each other, noses almost touching as his fingers wrapped around my bare waist, tracing patterns around and about there and my breath hitched, a low gasp escaping my lips.
" What....Arjun...." Before I could finish myself, a knock on the door brought me back to reality and I my feet jumped back, putting some space between his and me as I looked anywhere but at him while his eyes remained on my face.
" Ranaji, Raani Maa has asked you to make haste. Purohitji is waiting in the Throne Room." One of the maids said and I looked at her. He gave her a swift, dismissing nod and she left us alone, once again.
" You should go." I muttered and he gave me a nod before going to change.
He wore a black kurta that accentuated his broad shoulders and complemented his chiseled features and I couldn't help but feel my heart race as my eyes locked onto him for a split second before he hurriedly walked out, not wanting to keep Mom waiting.
Arjun's Look ~
I am really really grateful for that because he would have caught me and then teased me and I wasn't exactly prone to his words.
I went back to sit down because the dress was really heavy for me and then I was begun reading Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince because I had nothing to do.
In all honesty, I hadn't read a word and was still thinking about a certain somebody. Someone who had been consuming all my thoughts for a while now and the absolute biggest news was that I wasn't reading HARRY FREAKING POTTER when it was in front of me and thinking about him.
What was the world coming down to? Really?
" Siya, let's go." Preeti bhabhi had walked into the room and I stood up, giving her a nervous nod.
" Are we really doing this?" I asked her and he gave me an excited nod.
" Don't worry Siya. You will be fine. Besides, just imagine Vaani's face when she sees you walk in. Mom has practically forced Amar and her to be in attendance and this is going to be so much fun and worth it. Together, we will rub this in her face." She said and that possibility alone was enough to give me a last push towards actually doing this.
As we stood in front of the throne room, I took a deep breath and then, the doors were thrown open for me to enter. Preeti bhabhi stopped right at the entrance and I was to walk ahead and as I made my presence known, I heard a couple of gasps which really freaked me out before I found mumma, papa, my brothers and sister-in-laws and Kritik there. Mahir was peacefully watching his surroundings in Tanaya bhabhi's arms.
I managed to give them a small smile and then found Dad coming to me, escorting me towards the centre where Arjun sat in front of the hawan, just opposite to Purohitji.
" Don't be nervous a bit Siya. You are Queen." Dad gave me a few words of encouragement, I suppose with a smile which I found myself returning.
" Ice-cream after this?" I whispered to him, trying to diffuse the anger-tension that was still present from my side after the whole Vaani fiasco.
" Gladly. It's a date." He replied and I giggled, nodding as he stopped a step behind me and Arjun stood up from where he was sitting, asking for my hand in his.
This time, I had no confusion as I gave it to him and he helped me sit before sitting next to me.
" Where is Vani?" I asked him, just as immediately and then realised that perhaps, this was the wrong person I asked because his jaw hardened at the mention of her.
" Forget I asked. Forget it. But the mere mention of her shouldn't be affecting you as much as it does if she doesn't matter to you at all." I whispered back, once again, my temper rising at his reaction but there was no way I was going to create a scene here and now.
" It doesn't affect me in any way at all, Siya. But if it is she who comes to your mind the first thing when you walk out here, on your coronation, then it is a matter of concern for me." He almost sounded like he was annoyed by me, probably rightfully so.
" I'm sorry." I muttered, deciding against saying anything else at the moment and closed my eyes, concentrating on the puja.
" Now Ranaji will place this Crown on Ranisa." Purohitji said as I opened my eyes.
" I shall, but before that, there is something I need replaced in the crown." He declared, standing up and I followed too.
" Replacing? What needs to be replaced Ranaji?" Mom asked, addressing her son as the King in the court, in front of all the people who broke into murmurs because nothing like this had ever happened before apparently.
" Crimson." Was all he said and everyone around us and me, were left confused.
" Crimson?" I found myself repeating, looking at him for an explanation.
" Your eyes." He was talking in a complete mystery.
" I am pretty sure that they are black, unless I've been bitten by a vampire or a radioactive spider." I joked and most of the people around found me funny, so did he.
" Your eyes are like crimson at twilight. Much like the intensity of crimson, your mind holds a depth that unfolds in layers of compassion, kindness, wisdom and wit. Your anger mirrors the resolve of crimson gemstones, unyielding in the face of adversity but most of all, your heart, which mirrors the rubies of this Kingdom's treasures, is a sanctuary where love blooms as the most exquisite rose, each petal revealing a story of everyone you love and care about. Might I be bold enough to add the colour of your cheeks, reminiscent of the most delicate crimson when you blush for me, as you are. You own Crimson and you should own a Crimson Crown, The Crimson Crown." His voice, his words and everything about him screamed mine. He is mine just as much as I am him and if I could, I would have kissed him right here and now.
" Ranaji, I accept. I also promise that every milestone we celebrate in our marriage, you will find me in Crimson." I failed to hold my tear back as it made it's way to my cheek but I was smiling.
How could I not?
" I will take you up on this promise of yours then, Raanisa." Mischief twinkled in his eyes for a moment before he called the Royal Jeweller and handed him the crown.
" I want all the sapphires replaced by rubies here." He asked the man who agreed and on the spot, somehow fixed the rubies, replacing the sapphires.
I saw all the family around us smiling and Raani Maa was smiling the widest while I spotted Mumma and Papa wiping tears away from their eyes.
" Turn towards me, Siya." Arjun asked of me and I immediately complied. He took one step near me and placed the Ruby crown on the top of my head and after, placed a small kiss on my forehead.
" Bow to your Raanisa, My Maharaani Sa, Maharani Siya Arjun Singh Rajvanshi." Arjun then announced, took two steps away from me and just like everyone else was, bowed his head down in front of me with a smile.
I had nothing to say, not a word and luckily, I wasn't expected to.
Arjun had no problem bowing down in front of me when we were alone and certainly no problem in front of everyone either. He was the King. People feared him as much as they respected him and here he was, with his head bowing without an ounce of ego in front of me.
I think I love him.
Everything about him.
All his faults.
All his positives.
Every fibre of his being, I was in love with.
" Let's get you to your rightful place." He said once everyone were again standing straight as he, once again, asked for my hand in his.
" And where would that be?" I raised a brow but put my palm in his.
" Right beside me." He replied, kissing my knuckles and escorting me to the throne, making me sit but he kept standing while everyone looked at us before hailing us.
It was funny, not going to lie because where were we, in the 18th century or something?
But then I finally saw Vani, standing at the very corner behind everybody next to Amar as everyone bowed down once again, including her.
" Arjun." I whispered and he looked at me.
" This is why I asked about Vani. I wanted to see her when she bowed down in front of us." I giggled and his eyes danced in amusement.
" You are evil, Little One." He joked and I chuckled.
" True that. You should be very very careful." I warned as we bantered.
Soon, the ceremony had come to an end and Arjun was busy with a few people. Mumma, papa and my brothers and sisters-in-laws had to leave because they were going to Udaipur to attend some wedding. I was asked to attend too but then this coronation thing came up so yeah.
Currently, I was standing with Samarth bhai and Preeti bhabhi and we were making about a 100 different plans to rub this in Vani and Amar's face.
" You should roam around the Palace for at least two days with the crown on every time and make sure that Vani bows down. You can also ask her to fetch you water." He suggested.
" No bhai. What if she poisons the water?" I asked and he nodded.
" Didn't think of that." He muttered as we moved on to the next plan.
" How about do nothing?" I heard Arjun's voice as he joined us.
" Not an option Bhai. Stop being boring." Samarth bhai said and I nodded in agreement.
" Preeti, back me up here." He looked at her but he shook her head in a no too. Yes!
" No bhaiya. This time, I am with them. It's better you join us too." She asked him and he low-key sighed.
" No. I have a Kingdom to look after." He said and I deadpanned. Of course he wouldn't take part in our so called childish activities.
" Fine, but don't you think about spoiling our plans." I pointed my index finger at him as a sign of warning.
" I wouldn't have to do that, Siya. Samarth and you are more than sufficient to self-sabotage your own plans." He smirked and needless to say, bhai and I were totally offended.
We were just about to defend ourselves when Mom and Dad called Bhai and bhabhi, leaving me alone with Ranaji.
" That is a false accusation. We only somehow self-sabotage our plans in front of you. We are very successful pranksters when you are not involved." I decided to play attorney for the two of us.
" I'll have to see it to believe it Little Flower but right now, I want you to come with me." He said as he held my wrist gently, before sliding his hand down, entwining our fingers together.
" Where are we going?" I asked as we started walking together.
" I have something for you." He answered, his voice laced with a bit of mystery.
" Wait, wait, wait! Can I please change first? Pretty please?" I almost begged him because it was getting ridiculously difficult for me to walk in the dress.
It was too heavy even though it was one of the most beautiful ones I had ever worn.
" I am giving you five minutes." He replied and I nodded like an over-enthusiastic dolphin before happily getting to our bedroom, taking out a crimson suit out and immediately changing.
" Arjun I want to ask you something." I called after him from the closet. He was sitting on the couch, waiting for me.
" What is it Little One?" He replied.
"Why did you get the crown changed? It must have such a heritable value." I couldn't help but ask him this as I adjusted my kurti.
" Siya you are my Queen and the crown is yours. It has to be you. Besides for me, Crimson is you and you are crimson." He replied and bit my lip, trying to contain my smile.
" Where did you learn how to woo women?" I asked again, giggling a bit as I walked out of the closet and went in front of the mirror to quickly brush my hair.
Siya's Look ~
" I learnt to woo you, not women." He replied and I decided not to pursue the question further because I could see losing myself in his words once again. He did have a way with them.
" So about this surprise....." I turned, raising a brow and he gave me a knowing look, as if he already knew what my reaction was going to be.
" Come with me." He said as we walked out of the room towards his office wing but he stopped before a building right next to his office building.
" What is here?" I asked because I had never been here.
" You'll see. Now close your eyes" He replied, smiling and I, without putting up a fight, did close my eyes, partly because I was too excited to argue.
He helped me take a few more steps ahead and then I heard the door to the room being thrown open.
" You can open your eyes now." He asked me and I quickly did.
It almost took me about five seconds to register what I was seeing.
Tall, elegant bookshelves stretched from the polished marble floor to the intricately frescoed ceiling, lined with row upon row of beautifully bound books. Each shelf held a treasure trove of literature from across the realms - from ancient scrolls to modern tomes.
As I walked in, I found that the library was divided into various sections, each tailored to my preferences. One corner held a collection of enchanting fairy tales and whimsical fables, with plush armchairs upholstered in rich fabrics inviting me to lose myself in fantastical worlds. Nearby, a cozy fireplace crackled, casting a warm and inviting glow, perfect for curling up with a book on a chilly evening.
" Am I dreaming?" I murmured to myself, completely unable to believe what was in front of my eyes.
" No, Little Flower, you are not. This is all yours. Your own personal library." I found Ranaji breaking me out of my trance but my eyes still refused to look anywhere else than this place.
" How am I ever supposed to thank you for this?" I asked, touching the spines of my favourite books, all first editions. This was something I was going to cherish my entire life.
" Do you see that corner?" He asked, pointing towards the little sitting set-up by the window overlooking the entire palace.
" Yes." I replied.
" Just sit there when you wish to read and lose yourself here. I will stand there, right from my office and find you right in front of my eyes." He replied and this made me turn to face him as I marched towards that corner.
" Beautiful." I heard myself.
" Indeed, beautiful." He agreed but somehow, I didn't get a feeling that he was still talking about the library and my mouth curved into a smile as I sat there, overlooking the books, palace and My King.
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