Adornment

The rainy night had given way to a rather pleasant summer morning in Suryapali. The temperature was no longer soaring and a gentle breeze blew through the plains of Suryapali. The sun peeped out through the floating clouds occasionally. Priyambada walked into her chambers after a luncheon to find trays laid with drapes and jewellery, waiting for her.
“The Maharani sent this for some celebration in the evening,” Vrinda spoke, bowing at her mistress who nodded silently. Priyambada eyed the trays and exhaled. She wasn’t sure if anyone talked to Ishaan Dev about the rituals. She dismissed Vrinda and decided to read the scripture. As Priyambada sat down on the edge of the bed, scripture in hand, her thoughts travelled to the happenings of the night and she inhaled as her throat felt dry. Why did he stop? Did he feel that he had offended her? Priyambada wondered. She walked up to the attire laid down for the evening and picked up the drape wrapped into a bodice and wrap-around skirt. They were stitched in heavy embroideries with a matching bright drape. She shook her head and asked Vrinda to help her with the clothes and skirt. 

Gulabi Bai came to the chambers of the queen of Neelambargarh and frowned slightly at the drape on the tray.

“Have they not given you the entire attire, Your Highness? I will go check with the…” She stopped before rushing to the royal tailor as she eyed Priyambada in the drape wrapped into a bodice and skirt.
“I apologise to my lady, but the queen told me to remind you of the tradition.” Gulabi Bai bowed as Priyambada nodded, dismissing Vrinda.
“I will wait for him.” She said rather nonchalantly. Gulabi Bai smiled, offering to go look for the Adhiraja herself. Priyambada declined her offer. Gulabi Bai was about to step out of the chambers when Ishaan Dev almost bumped into her at the threshold, she quickly apologised. She needed to go inform her queen discreetly about what she saw and observed.

Ishaan Dev entered the chambers to see Priyambada in the skirt and drape wrapped into a bodice, the jewellery and drape lying over the silver trays beside her. She was sitting in front of the mirror and combing her long hair unmindfully. Upon his arrival, Vrinda bowed and promptly left, for she knew she wasn’t needed around anymore. Ishaan Dev cleared his throat and sat down on the edge of the bed, unsure of whether to approach her. The silence was suddenly very uncomfortable for Priyambada as she cleared her throat.
“The Maharani instructed us about some traditions of the groom’s side.” Priyambada eyed him through the reflection as she spoke. Ishaan Dev suddenly looked relieved that she spoke to him normally.
“Oh.” He agreed with a nod and stared back at Priyambada through the mirror. She looked away and proceeded to make a braid in her hair. 
“What am I supposed to do?” He asked as her fingers stopped at her locks and she sighed in looking up at him. 
“Well. I can do it myself. They don’t need to know…”
“Tradition is tradition right?” Ishaan Dev shrugged.
“I don’t want to be late for Nayantara’s reception by her in-laws.” Priyambada’s voice sounded like a warning. Ishaan Dev was suddenly amused.
“Then let me help you now.” He got up as she finished braiding her hair and eyed him picking up the drape. Priyambada stood up to face him as he was suddenly confused about which shoulder the drape fell over.
“Left.” She almost read his mind and had a hint of amusement in her voice. He let the drape fall over her left shoulder and across her stomach to her back as he moved with the end of the drape to her back. But he didn’t know what to do with the end, as he stood confused staring at her dusky waist peeping between the skirt and knotted drape wrapped into a bodice. Priyambada suddenly remembered the women saying that the men struggled to do what they could undo easily and smiled amused as she took the corner from his hand and tucked it in her skirt. She picked up a brooch she had selected for the attire and pinned it on the drape. Ishaan Dev walked across to the jewellery.

“The Maharani gifted those, I should thank her.” Priyambada eyed the gaudy jewellery as he picked up the waistband first. She took it from him and put it around her waist waiting for him to hook it on the side. His fingers brushed lightly against her warm waist, and Priyambada suddenly found his hand too cold. She inhaled to control her shudder inwardly as he picked up a piece of jewellery and looked confused at it.
“Bangles?” He asked as she shook her head almost with a chuckle. “Armband.” She corrected him.
“Oh, I was wondering, it looks too big for the wrist.” He shook his head, making her smile amused as she stretched her arms helping him tie the armbands on either of her upper arms. The shoulder-less drape wrapped into a bodice hung over her bosom as he proceeded with the necklace. Pushing her hair over her shoulder he hooked the necklace and then another. Priyambada put on the rings on her fingers trying not to get intimidated by the proximity while he helped with the hairpins and she tried on the earrings. 
“Done.” She stood up, gathering her drape across her back to her arm, as she checked herself in the mirror. She eyed the bottles of perfume thinking of sprinkling some on her clothes and hair. Ishaan Dev stepped back and watched her as Priyambada suddenly found his gaze intimidating. She cleared her throat hoping he would look away and chuckled nervously sharing how the many things Nayantara was gifted to wear that evening would prove to be a test for the king of Anantanagar. Ishaan Dev responded with nods at her words as he suddenly said “Something is missing.”
“What?” Priyambada frowned, checking herself in the mirror. She had worn every piece of jewellery a woman possibly could, from the toe rings to the hairpins. You expect me to look like one of those nymphs in the stone carvings of the altars? Priyambada eyed him moving to the chests and bringing out a wooden box. He took out what looked like a tiara as she sat down in front of the mirror still confused. He placed it on her head and smiled “There, perfect. It is a Churamani that belonged to my grandmother.” Priyambada gasped. How could she take such a valuable heritage? The queen insisted; Ishaan Dev reassured her. He went on to tell her about how his maternal grandmother continued to exercise more power in her land even at her age than her grandsons, the kings and ministers. She was married to the prince of the neighbouring state when they lost a war. He had stopped carefully before saying more as Priyambada eyed him.
“She seems like quite a strong woman.” Priyambada smiled as he agreed. It was then that the hourly bells rang and Priyambada gasped as she hurried out murmuring she was late for the evening. Ishaan Dev sank back into the seat Priyambada took a while ago and smiled at his reflection in the mirror.
Priyambada had reached the ladies' gathering to find them scrutinising each other and sharing rather funny moments when their husbands had struggled with the day’s rituals. Someone had broken something, and someone else lost patience. The ladies were happy that their men now knew how difficult it was to look beautiful every day. Priyambada smiled as the ladies teased Nayantara who was decked up almost perfectly by her new husband. 
“I did my hair,” Sumedha confessed. “I can’t expect him to braid.”
“Me too.” Priyambada nodded. 
“Mine braided my hair.” One of Nayantara’s cousins said, “Did he do a terrible job?” She showed her unevenly done braids as Priyambada shook her head and lied.

The evening rolled on to the point when the Maharani of Suryapali instructed Sumedha and Priyambada to lead the bride to her marital chamber. Sumedha held on to the nervous Nayantara’s hand as Priyambada stepped up to follow Gulabi Bai’s lead to the room. She froze at the sight of the decoration, which was quite similar to her first night with Ishaan Dev.
“Are you alright?” Sumedha jolted her “You look a little pale.”
“I am fine.” Priyambada’s heart raced as she lied. “Just… tired.”
“Finally after a month, all the frenzy will be over tomorrow.” Sumedha sighed. “I will miss everyone.”
“So I see that the Adhiraja gave you our grandmother’s Churamani?” Nayantara’s words made Priyambada’s hand travel to the tiara on her head. “Did he tell you its significance?” Priyambada frowned at her words and shook her head. It was just a piece of jewellery. Sumedha smiled. 
“All the wives in Suryapali are given one by their husbands. It is a mark of a married woman.” She looked at a confused Priyambada “Didn’t he tell you that?”
Priyambada shook her head. Nayantara smiled.
“Oh, he is such a novice at these things. The last time you left he refused to take the thing at all.” Sumedha gestured at Nayantara to stop as Priyambada looked a little pale.
“I am sleep-deprived.” Nayantara added quickly, “But perhaps sadder. I have to leave tomorrow.”
“Oh, you will be sleep-deprived for quite many months now.” Sumedha teased her as Nayantara blushed. “Perhaps until we get some good news.”
“And you won’t miss us too,” Priyambada added. “Now, we should go,” Priyambada spoke as Sumedha stepped back and she surprised Nayantara with a hug. “You will be fine. We will see you tomorrow.” She made Nayantara nod, the nervousness and anticipation of the night visible on her face. 

Ishaan Dev witnessed the men tease the groom relentlessly as he felt awkward about the conversation. The bride in question was his little sister. He wondered how Nayantara felt. His mind immediately travelled to a distant memory of a much resistant princess who chose the hairpin as her object of defence. He smiled to himself as the men led the groom away to his chambers. Ishaan Dev had walked into his chambers to find it empty. He frowned slightly at the sand clock and sat down to remove his robe. What was taking her so long? He had told his father that they would leave two days after Nayantara’s farewell. He needed to tell her that.

The door of the chamber opened as Priyambada entered, looking a little surprised to find him there. She eyed the empty corridor and closed the door behind her.
 “The day was busy.” She sat down in front of the mirror and sighed.
“We will leave in two days. After Nayantara…” he stopped to notice her relieved face in the reflection. She wanted to go home. He didn’t blame her for that. Truth be said, he wanted to go back too, as odd as it might make him sound.  She unpinned the brooch as he walked up to her.
“Didn’t the tradition also say I had to help you undress?” His words suddenly made Priyambada flush at his rather amused expression. She didn’t respond as he proceeded to pull at her drape slightly making it fall over her lap as he began to unpin the hairpins. With each pin, the locks of her hair began to fall loosely over her shoulder. His hand stopped at the Churamani. Traditionally, a woman never removed it. But Ishaan Dev was well aware of the fact that he didn’t tell her its significance. His face changed from the smirk he wore a moment ago to that of serious contemplation. Priyambada looked up at his confused face. 
“You didn’t tell me the entire truth.” Her voice was firm. It was hard to tell if she was upset.
“What truth?” Ishaan Dev narrowed his brows a little staring at her through the reflection.
“About the Churamani.” She shook her head.
“What more do you want to know?” He asked as she proceeded to open her bangles and rings and he swept her hair to a side, revealing her back as he leaned in to undo the hook of the necklace. She froze as could feel his breath on her skin he removed the necklace and she caught it before it fell on her lap.
Priyambada kept the necklace down on the counter and breathed in.
“What more should you tell me?” She almost whispered, as her voice trembled and he bent down to whisper into her ear, almost breathing into it, “How about I show you?” Priyambada’s throat felt dry and her heartbeat increased as his nose touched her cold shoulders right on the edge of her arms and proceeded towards the nape of her neck where he planted a gentle kiss making her arms break into goosebumps. Priyambada shuddered as he moved his hand down her back and undid the waistband. She stood up to rush behind the partition, her breathing unsteady and her heart thumping in her chest as she could sense him approaching her. Priyambada closed her eyes, sensing him behind her, as he pulled at her wrap-around skirt, loosening it, then at the knot of her drape wrapped into a bodice. Priyambada held the piece of cloth around her upper body, preventing it from falling as her skirt loosened around her waist, making his hand travel down to her bare skin and his mouth move on her back. 

Priyambada suddenly felt weak on her knees like she couldn’t stand there any longer. The sensations of the new feeling were consuming her, as almost like he could read her mind, Ishaan Dev picked her up and took her to bed. When eyes met as he placed his body over hers, she could sense the hunger and longing in his stare as he tugged at her upper piece of clothes and exposed her naked skin to his, cupping her tender bosoms. He kissed her temple before going down to remove her skirt. Priyambada suddenly flushed, feeling vulnerable and exposed yet intimate to his touch. The sensations Ishaan Dev offered were new to her and somehow overwhelming. He, unlike her, seemed to know what he was doing as he proceeded to pleasure her. 

Ishaan Dev had never cared much about a woman’s pleasure before. He had at times been admittingly rough for his desires and even hurt women. But he didn’t love those women. Ishaan Dev wanted to let Priyambada know she was different. He valued her feelings. He wanted the validation of pleasuring her and making her feel the longing he had felt for a long time for her. His fingers moved in between her thighs while his tongue explored her waist and proceeded down. Priyambada let out an involuntary moan and shuddered at the sensation, as she clasped the pillow under her head, unable to control the throbbing in between her legs. 

She suddenly felt she was in pain and wanted him to stop. She, almost like a moan, escaping between her lips, urged him that he was hurting her as she clutched at his arms to bear the pain. Ishaan Dev didn’t stop. Instead, he nibbled at her ears briefly reassuring her to trust him for the pain made way to the pleasure she wouldn’t forget. Priyambada inhaled trying to control her muffled moans as he got his way with her. She knew that he knew better what he was doing and her senses were too clouded with ecstasy for judgment. Tears rolled down her eyes as she muffled her cries, conscious of who might hear her. When Ishaan Dev stopped to compose himself he was suddenly aware of Priyambada’s sweat, blood and tears. Had he hurt her? Had he disrespected her? Priyambada opened her eyes, as he kissed her, reassuringly wiping away her tears. 
“Are you alright?” he managed between his heavy breathing. She nodded as the weakness in her limbs made her hyperventilate. He laid down on his back, beside her, his hand in hers, as she looked at his satisfied face and managed a reassuring smile at him. Entwining her hand around his while he slept, Priyambada found his words true, for her pain gave way to the pleasure she had never experienced before nor imagined. The blood that stained the sheet that day was different from any other that stained and pained her in the past, be it from womanhood or war. Strangely, she thought to herself as she lay on the bed, even love demanded bloodshed.

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