SHOCKING! Aplha collects only 5cr in 2nd weekend.
Dhamaal 4 emerges a HIT
🎵S. Janaki: One Voice that Reflected in a Thousand Melodious Emotions
Chapter 18
Ranaji walks the length of the royal corridor whilst shrugging off his gloves and handing the whip he had used on the prisoner to Ramsingh. His presence and the goings on are witnessed in the distance by Gayatri who instantly lowers her gaze and becomes all that more quite as her companion Rajmata who walks along side her takes note.
There was an estranged encounter the queen mother could feel. Ranaji seemed to watch Gayatri who preferred to keep herself to herself. He saw exactly what Subharna had described, fear.
Noticing a predicament Rajmata asks Gayatri to go ahead whilst she stops to share a word of warning for her son.
"Ham nahin jaante ke aap ke aur rani ke beech kya hua hai par woh galtiya mat dohrayey joh aap ne subharna ke saath ki thi...not every lady is a Subharna Ranaji."
For once Ranaji didn't retaliate, because his mother was right Gayatri was different and more importantly she was a responsibility of his choice one who he had promised to take care of.
...
Indravardan was aware of his shortcomings. A tyrant he wasn't yet he probably seemed like one to his new bride and it would take more than a conversation for him to get across that what she witnessed last night was a mere corner of an otherwise good man.
When Rana looked out of balcony of his room by chance from distance he saw Gayatri sat on her own lonely in chambers, he didn't know why but it disturbed him more than he anticipated something like that would.
...
He looked at his wrist watch stood out on the steps of the Mehel in the afternoon sunshine. His guests would have been here any minute he thought. Dam it he should have just gone himself, well he'd certainly be the one driving them back if this is how slow Ram Singh had become in his old age!.
Waiting wasn't for kings that was for sure yet just before Ranaji could check the time again his personal car halted in front of him and out came his two very adorable guests. Gayatris niece and nephew Gopal and Naveli.
Naveli was familiar with Ranaji a little more than Gopal was but they both greeted the king with innocent smiles and that glow of mischievousness every child had at their age something that put a smile on the kings face too.
Leading the children into the Mehel Ranaji is taken by surprise when each of the children on either side of him take him by the hand as they walk alongside him intrigued and exited my their surrounding. A small but very unique moment for the king.
In the walk from the entrance from the Mehel to the inner quarters the duo had asked many a question and also got many a promises from the king in a matter of just minutes. They were apparently going to go, horse riding, as well as helicopter riding and swimming and all the other things that caught their attention during their walk into the palace. Ranaji may not have known it but he was a natural with children they had already taken a liking to him it was only when Gayatri was given news of visitors did she walk out into the hall to see her little gems did they give up pestering him.
The surprise was clear to see on Gayatri's face, the smile was from ear to ear and her eyes went from sadness to beaming sunshine right down to overwhelm in seconds as the children ran towards her and took her in a much needed hug.
Aap dono yaha kaise ..? (What are you two doing here?)
Phufa ji hame le kar ayey (Uncle invited us) one of them said along some other things.
Ranaji had never been addressed that way before and so a raise of the eyebrows was expected but he smiled it off. What was would be even if it sounded strange to the ears.
Gayatri looked towards Ranaji who was stood at the distance with his hands in his pockets still smiling at the children when he caught sight of Gayatri he could still see the uncertainty in her eyes that scattered around the place but failed to look at him. No doubt she was thankful for this and also surprised by the gesture but it was easier to avoid his eyes at this time rather than meet with them.
"Batcho ko bhookh lagi hogi ...aap unke pasand ka kuch banvayey tab tak ham unhe mehel dikhate hai."
(I think the children are hungry, if you could get the chiefs to make something of their choice whilst I take them for a tour of the palace.)
She nodded as yes her eyes to floor as she asked if he too would dine with them.
...
Gayatri looked extremely happy with Gopal and Naveli as they were gathered around the table eating, they laughed and had conversation the way a family did, he hadn't seen Gayatri smile that way before that's how he wished for her to be all the time. Unreserved & happy.
Ranaji caught Gayatri off guard when he commented from behind whilst approaching the dinning table where Naveli and Gopal had already tucked in to their favourite dishes made by none other than their aunt.
"Hasi aap ke chehre par atchi lagti hai raniji kyun batcho.."
(Laughter looks lovely on you my queen what say kids? )
Gayatri who had no idea as to how long Ranaji had been there became a whole lot more formal on hearing the king the hesitation still very much within her around him.
She prepared Ranaji'
s plate with the help of the odd servant walking in and out of the kitchen but the king refused to eat the norm he preferred to eat what the children were eating.
Not sure if he would enjoy a more simple meal Gayatri nervously agreed but took comfort when seeing Ranaji enjoy her cooking.
...
Not only did the children lift Gayatris mood they had bonded well with the king to. As promised Ranaji took Gopal and Naveli horse riding, they also took a ride in his car and took pleasure in sitting on his thrown and running around the mehel exploring all in all their presence bought life to the palace as well as Gayatri.
When Gayatri fails to find the children and hadn't been informed about there where about from anyone else she searches the Mehel but is stunned by what she finds.
Out in the lounge of the palace the children are with non other than Ranaji and in way that Gayatri had never seen him before.
Whilst ranaji lay on his stomach on the sofa suit of the mehel Naveli walks Ranajis back and Gopal plays chess with him. Who said a king was above the norms of a normal life. Gayatri saw a caring, at ease Ranaji apt enough to look after little children as he did his kingdom. A side ever so different from what she had seen last night her fear of him after seeing this seemed baseless one who could be so gentle around children could not hurt anyone without good cause.
...
Maybe she was finding accepting the various sides of her husband difficult she thought as sat in thought that night whilst Gopal fell asleep in her lap and Naveli rested on her shoulder after the story she had read them both.
The man who was strong yet kind and compassionate enough to stand up for her, to accept as his own was also the man whos harshness shook her core but it was also true that he was also the man that she had dreamed of all these years and the man she had witnessed just a few hours ago be the most caring of persons to the children.
Maybe that was what being a king meant, a king was protector, a father, a guardian someone who punished and someone who rewarded too and all of those things made up her husband. Be it his anger, his kindness, his authority or his ease it was all him.
The more Gayatri thought about it the more it seemed to make sense to her.
Disturbing her thoughts was her little niece who spoke from over her shoulder in a sleepy daze about the story she had just heard. Cinderella.
"Woh rajkumari bilkul aap jaisi hai na bua.. aap ko bhi toh ama aur chachi bohot sata te they na aur phir ranaji aap ko waha se rajmehel le kar aayey aur aap ab bohot khush ho na."
(Cinderella was just like you wasn't she aunt..then Ranaji came a long just like the prince in the story and took you away and now you live happily ever after..)
Naveli spoke with beaming eyes at the excitement of having a fairly tale come to life.. it certainly made Gayatri think and feel. Ranaji had surely been her prince charming but was she living happily ever after..maybe not just yet but she was sure close.
Yes she smiled and nodded a little naveli it was close enough to her reality.. in fact very close as Gayatri was just about to find out.
The King stood at the door of the room having witnessed the conversation watches Gayatri rub Naveli's back as she drifts off. The moment was yet another reminder of the reality of Gayatris life and so it was a must that he have the conversation with her that he set out to have.
"Hame aap se kuch baat karna chahte hai" (I'd like to talk to you.) He said when their eyes met my chance.
By god she hoped she hadn't done something wrong again, she almost prayed under her breath at the way he walked into the room with his hands behind his back looking as masterful as ever but the poise of the king the look in his eyes soon filled with warmth at the sight of the children.
Gayatri noticed how soft the look in his eyes became.
He took a seat at the side of the bed and spoke softly as not to make too much noise trying not to disturb the children and Gayatri avoided him like she had been doing all day
"Hame adat nahin hai. Hamari kayi raniya hai ..lekin ham ne hamesha une rani bana kar hien rakha.
(It's not something I'm used to, I have many a wife but they've always been my just that my queens..)
"Subharna hamare liyey hamari taakat hai, she is resolute, maybe
she was given no choice in the matter unhe aisa bana pada." ("Subharna is my strength maybe because I gave her no other choice".)
Gayatri could hear a hint of remorse in Ranaji when he mentioned his relationship with Subharna but at this time was surprised just by the nature of the conversation he was having with her and listened quietly whilst he spoke looking into oblivion.
"Sulkashana hamara pyaar tha I was always a little more lenient on her, aur woh ziddi." ( Sulkashana was my love") - he corrected the past and present tense when he spoke about his second queen. ("I was always very lenient with her and she was stubborn.")
"Ek patni ki parva kya hoti hai.. woh apne pati ka khyal kis tara rakh ti hai woh sab shayad hamari samaj se bahar hai aur is liyey nahin hame aap ki parva samaj mein ayi na aap ke bartav mein chipi hue bhavna."
(I've never really stopped to recognize the care and concern of a wife, maybe its not something I understand and that is why I failed to see the concern behind the way you react or things you do for me.)
He had said he piece and he hoped that she would understand. He turned to her for a moment to see that discomfort in her eyes may have mellowed over the course of the day but he was still obliged to address what he was responsible for. He watched her sill struggle to look at him .
"Ham nahin chahte ke hamari rani hamse dare..ham chahte hai ke woh hame samje aur badle mein ham une samajne ki koshish karenge.."
(I don't want my queen to be afraid of me, I ask she try to understand me & in return I will try my upmost to do the same.)
The fact that he had spoken of the very crux of the matter got Gayatris attention, her one glance to see what played in his eyes was enough to see how sincere his words were. His eyes questioned whether she would agree to that. Rather overwhelmed by the nature of the conversation he had just made Gayatri nods a yes in agreement. It almost felt like he had put all her reservations and concerns to rest with just a few words and that look in his eyes reminded her just why she had so much faith in him over anyone else in her life.
...
When Ranaji fails to fall a sleep because of a move in a game of chess that he was adamant to resolve he takes out the annoyance of his failure on the sevak at the foot of his bed for doing a rubbish job of pressing his legs. He demands to get whomever it was the night before last to do the job but is taken by surprise when the Sevak mentions it was non other than Rani Gayatri who had been at his feet all those nights he lay comfortably unaware, asleep.
His eyes having moved off the board first time in a long time Ranaji is stunned by what the sevak tells him.
The sevak had walked out before Ranaji could stop him. Quite a bit of time passed and no one returned good thought the king. Gayatri was probably busy with the children and maybe for the best wouldn't know how to react if she turned up for such a task. He always treated his queens like royalty unaware that his attitude was often mistaken for detachment.
Engrossed in his game it was a while before Ranaji noticed Gayatri sat the foot of his bed. She continued to press the calve potion of his legs and the touch seemed familiar now he paid attention to it. It was the touch he recognized from the past few nights that had helped him sleep so well despite strain from various sports and regimental training.
He was so focused on the chessboard, still trying figure the god dam move. She thought for a second about how she was always supposed to ask permission before entering the kings room but then figured it was better keeping quite as not to disturb him when he seemed to be mid thought. He asked her if she had been present for long
Gayatri explained exactly which move Ranaji had played when she had arrived which told him she was also a keen player of the game which impressed him and of course she would be she was Seth Govinds daughter after all.
She kept herself to herself continued to massage his legs, serving her in the most traditional of ways but thought about how comfortable the silence was now just her and Ranaji, with the days events Ranaji had chipped away most of her apprehensions and when she looked at him now she focused on the man she admired enough to fall in love with without even knowing.
Gayatri listened to him sighing at the state of his game from time to time and then when he threw out some comment or the other she was amused.
"Pata nahin govind seth ne apne nati ko kausn si chal sikayi hai..shame on you indar shame on you" He spoke out loud and just stared at the board clueless when he saw the perfect move play before his eyes. Gayatri had moved the pieces for him in a way he had never thought about displaying her intelligence.
His eyes were confused for a split second, Gayatri was a little unsure of how he was going to react maybe she shouldn't have interfered but his eyes simply beamed..and his smile was something anyone would cherish.
He was impressed that certainly showed on his expression and not only that he could finally rest now. As he slouched back against the headboard and put the game chess of the royal bed Gayatri stayed sat at her place she would wait until he was asleep comfortably before leaving as per the sevak would have done but she was surprised when his words were something other than excusing her from the room.
"Aaj raat aap yahi rehengi, (you'll stay her tonight) you will be more comfortable here" he said thinking of the children taking up Gayatris room as he drank from water at the side table and she watched trying not to be too expressive of how unexpected this was after the day they had. It spoke of how forgiving a man Ranaji was after a point and she liked that about him. He kept a potion of the bedside free for her and when she lay next to him that night there was a certain feeling of content Gayatri had slowly but surely every event was brining her a little closer to him.
...
Next chapter
Gayatri seem to have lost an earring searched the bed and the surrounding floor that moring whilst Ranaji was else where in preparation for a game of morning golf. Not only had she out slept the king when she finally woke up she had lost a piece of jewelry dear to her. She searched high and low but when she heard a female voice approach the room Gayatri realized it was Rani Subhara which made it that much more of a predicament.
Cricket
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Anupamaa
