Separation

The afternoon sun was blazing over the heads of weary travellers as the ravens seemed to keep crowing at a distance. The forestland was otherwise silent, with the occasional chirping of birds or the chatter of monkeys jumping from tree to tree in groups. Rajkumari Sumedha had stopped her horse carefully at the sight of Rajputra Ravi Varman’s horse grazing near the ruins of the secluded temple. She removed the drape that veiled her face and ran to the premises of the shrine. Ravi Varman was pacing the altar, trying to figure out a gentle way to tell Sumedha to face the reality of the situation. He had played the conversation in his head a thousand times over before writing to her to see him again. He stopped at the faint sound of her anklets and raised his eyes to spot her at the threshold. The sight of him overwhelmed Sumedha. She rushed into his embrace before Ravi Varman could react. He stiffened as she held on to him.

“I knew you wouldn’t abandon me,” Sumedha spoke in between her sobs. “I know we will find a way. Say it, and I am ready to go anywhere with you.” Ravi Varman moved a step back, coming out of the embrace as Sumedha’s smile faded.

“Where will we go?” He asked almost as a rebuke. “You expect me to be impulsive and lose out on the seat of Suryapali and my parents’ favour for you? I expected you to be more mature than that.”

Sumedha looked a little taken aback. “I didn’t mean that. I mean, eventually, they will…”

“You are misunderstanding, Sumedha.” He shook his head, “I didn’t come here to run away with you. I came here to tell you to  go ahead with the wedding.”

“What are you saying?” She exclaimed, shocked. “I thought…”

“Don’t blame me.” Ravi Varman shook his head, “You knew our relationship was unacceptable in Suryapali. I never made false promises. It was never meant to be more than…”

“So you are giving up on us?” Sumedha spoke as tears blurred her vision. “So easily?” She stepped back. “After I offered myself in its entirety to you?” Sumedha’s voice cracked.

Ravi Varman exhaled. He looked up at Sumedha’s pale face. She had a hint of disgust in her voice. As practical as he was, Ravi Varman’s heart sank at the disgust in her tone.

“You know it is the right thing to do.” He tried to reason with her, stepping forward, closer to her, holding her shoulders calmly. She looked away. “Especially if you are marrying my half-brother, of all the people in the world. And you also know you don’t have a choice but to back out.”

“I cannot go back and undo things, cannot pretend it never happened.” She shook her head, “I just can’t…” She sobbed, hiding her face in her hands. Ravi Varman felt uneasy. They knew such a day would come, but they were not ready to face it yet.

“Neither can I.” Ravi Varman was admitted in a hurry. He assumed it would hurt less if they just hurried through the conversation, but he was wrong. Her hopeful eyes made his heart skip a beat.  “You think this is easy for me? Especially after knowing what kind of person Ishaan Dev is?” Sumedha frowned at his words. 

“What do you mean?”

“I have not seen a more impulsive, ill-tempered or dominating man than Ishaan. He can harm people without a care. I fear what he will do to someone as naive as you. He is vain, dominating and is used to having the last say in everything... and his lifestyle…” Ravi checked himself from mentioning his alleged affairs with Tarabai and with the Princess of Mait. Some secrets were meant to stay in the family. “Worse, that princess of Neelambargarh brings out the worst in him.”

“Isn’t she co-regent now?” Sumedha interrupted, “That is what I heard.”

“I have no interest in discussing or knowing the politics of Neelambargarh. All I know is that I want your safety, and I want to rule Suryapali. I want my father to see me for my true worth and make me the heir. I am done staying in Ishaan’s shadow, trying to emulate him. Once I get the throne, a lot can change. I can change the law that makes our love illegal.” He sounded hopeful. “I can fight him and bring you back to me.” Ravi Varman knew he was yet again, perhaps making a lot of false promises.

“But what do you expect me to do? Be someone else’s wife? Stop seeing you?” Sumedha shook her head, “I can’t love another man.”

“You don’t need to. Just be by his side and be my ally in secret. I promise you, if you help me now, I will take you with me as soon as I get the throne. We can be together then.”

“Even after he takes me as a wife? Even after I give him an heir? Are you ready to fight him for me, or are you just saying so?” Sumedha sounded unsure.

Ravi Varman nodded. “None of that matters to me, Sumedha. You are mine. There is nothing deeper than our intimacy that he can offer you.” Ravi Varman pulled her closer and kissed her forehead reassuringly.

“I promise you we'll be together if you are diplomatic and patient.”

“Will we meet when I am taken to Neelambargarh?” She asked, a little scared.

“Of course, we will. I will take up the camp at the border city, and we will see each other every week. But you need to be careful. We can’t let anyone be aware, especially Ishaan Dev and his queen. They would use it against us.” He reminded her, “I promise I am not abandoning you, but I am helpless, Sumedha.” Ravi Varman shook his head, “I can’t afford to lose favour with my parents now.” Sumedha nodded, scared and yet in her heart, she wanted to believe Ravi Varman’s words that someday he would come for her.

Tarabai was happy that she had finally stepped into the new kingdom. Ever since Yuvaraja Ishaan Dev had brought Rajkumari Priyambada home, Tarabai’s curiosity about the place was immense. Oh, he is Adhiraja now. She sank into the street scenes and common citizens looking curiously at the group of women being carried by royal bearers in palanquins, as they had never seen such sights. Concubines were way beyond the taste of their rulers till now. They were god-fearing people, committed to their women, and led simple lives, working hard, and indulging in art and education. Even if the soldiers indulged in such scenes at camps far away from their homes, the society of Neelambargarh was blind to such acts. Her bearers put down her palanquin alongside others as she gathered her entourage to walk into the palace premises after adjusting her ruffled hair and drapery. Tarabai couldn’t wait to check the Kothi arrangements Adhiraja Ishaan Dev had made for her. Her ladies speculated how the Kothi would perhaps be bigger or better than Suryapali, given that he was the king here, and Tarabai, his absolute favourite concubine. To Tarabai’s disappointment, she was stopped at the threshold of the palace. The concubines frowned in confusion as the guards refused to let them enter the premises.

“You don’t know who I am yet.” Tarabai shook her head at the men ``I am a favourite concubine of your king. He will have your heads for treating me so! Go and ask inside, I am expected to arrive with my people.”

“Whoever you might be, " the amused guard shook his head “, I have orders from the Maharani not to let anyone inside the royal premises.”  Tarabai frowned as the ladies exchanged confused glances.

“What do you mean?” She took out the letter containing Ishaan Dev’s seal from the pouch dangling from her waistband “See this.”

“Let me deal with them.” Urvi walked up to the confused crowd with an authoritative voice. Being younger in age or stature didn’t make Urvi feel intimidated by Tarabai in any way as she scrutinised the party with hawk eyes. Tarabai observed her glance at her people. Urvi, like many others, looked at them as though they were filth on the street. Tarabai smiled faintly. These women who detested them were unaware of how one small turn of events could land them on the other side. From where Tarabai saw the men’s world, every woman in some way or another was at a man’s service. Urvi’s eyes stopped at Tarabai’s faint smile as she nodded.

“You must be Tarabai. I am Urvi, the housekeeper. Your arrangements have been made. Follow me.” She turned left from the palace walls. Tarabai frowned and stood fixed in her spot as Urvi looked back at her with questioning eyes.

“The Adhiraja has summoned me to the palace,” Tarabai said. Urvi inhaled.

“The Maharani has arranged for a Kothi outside the palace for you. Come with me.”

“Outside the premises?” Tarabai’s brows shot up. “In Suryapali…”

“This is not Suryapali.” Urvi interrupted firmly, “You will be summoned when needed and leave before anyone sees you loitering around the palace premises. The Queen’s wing is a restricted area. You are only allowed to the king’s chambers or wherever he may wish to see you. That includes his private gardens, pools and orchards.” She spoke as the women followed her, exchanging glances. After walking for a few minutes under the scorching sun, Urvi stopped at a two-storey house that looked very simple. It had wooden doors and windows and no royal insignia on it. If one were to set off on that otherwise secluded road down the back of the palace, the premises would even go unnoticed. It was beside the high-running city walls, hidden from the sight of both the royals and the city folks.

“Does the Adhiraja approve of us staying so far away?” Tarabai asked as Urvi unlocked the doors with a set of keys. She didn’t respond but offered Tarabai the keys instead.

“Make yourself at home and wait for his instructions.” Urvi left Tarabai flabbergasted.

“I can’t believe this!” One of the women put her drape over her nose and winced as soon as Urvi left. “This place is so damp and dark. We were better off in Suryapali.”

“Did you see the way she talked? Even Gulabi Bai never dared to talk to Tarabai that way!” Another shook her head.

“Cleaning the place up to make it fit for living will take days.” Another retorted. Tarabai inhaled.

“We don’t have a choice, nor the position to complain.” She reminded them, “Get to work.” She turned to the men who accompanied them, carrying their pieces of luggage and things. “Help them out. You will get handsome tips.”

“Oh, you can tell the king, and I bet he will get furious at how the girl chose to treat his beloved Tarabai.” One of the girls smiled while the rest giggled and agreed.

Ishaan Dev was looking through some paperwork in his chambers when the physician came to check on him.

“I am fine, you don’t need to come any more once a week.” He reassured the old man, who smiled faintly, checking his pulse.

“The Maharani had ordered me to. I will have to receive her order to stop coming,” he smiled as Adhiraja Ishaan Dev shook his head. “Or else this old man will lose his head, Your Highness.” He spotted Devdoot at the threshold as he dismissed the man.

“What is it, Devdoot?” He asked as the man bowed.

“The women are here.” He said, sounding a little uneasy, “Urvi settled them into a Kothi outside the premises like the Maharani instructed.” Ishaan Dev looked up at the mention of Priyambada and smiled faintly with a nod. 

“Let Tarabai know her service will be expected tonight. Exclusively, hers.” Ishaan Dev made Devdoot bow and walk away. He knew the man quite well. If there was anyone who would inform Priyambada of his plans for the night, it would be him. He deliberately made Devdoot carry the message that any guard could have. 

Tarabai smiled upon receiving Ishaan Dev’s message. She sat down to prepare herself for the night, bringing out the boxes of perfumes and powders she had neatly brought with her. Tonight, after a long wait, she was to see Ishaan Dev again, have the pleasure of pleasing him, and if she felt the time to be right, would ask his permission to move closer to him. Tarabai smiled. She dared to go against the authority of the Maharani; was it a stupid idea? Probably. But she remembered Trishaan’s warning as her heart beat faster. Ishaan Dev could be in trouble. She needed to be alert.

In the darkness of the second hour of the night, the guard with a torch in his hand had led Tarabai into Ishaan Dev’s room. She smiled as she bowed, and Ishaan Dev looked up at her face. She seemed happy.

“I hope you settled in well.” Tarabai nodded at his words.

“The Kothi is a bit far, Your Highness.” She tried to sound normal with her complaint. Adhiraja Ishaan Dev smiled as he got up from his couch and walked up to her. 

“I should be the one complaining.” He made Tarabai smile teasingly as she slipped her veil off and closed the door behind her.

“Then I assume you had no hand in that, Adhiraja?” She asked.

“Ah.” Ishaan Dev nodded, “ That sounded weird for the first time.” He smiled as he tugged at her robe.

“Let me please you tonight.” Tarabai stopped his hand as she pushed him down on the bed. She was about to go down on him when Ishaan Dev sat up.

“I have a better idea.” He said, lifting Tarabai by her bun, firmly close to him. “Let’s go to the private pool.”

“Start where we left off, Your Highness?” Tarabai smiled.