88
RINA hissed so loudly and flung the book she was reading on the bed, and got up. It was a novel, she had been trying to read and comprehend this novel for the past thirty minutes now, but she kept flipping back to the beginning once she has reached a particular page.
The novel just wasn’t entering. A lot was on her mind, for a lot has happened. She was actually trying to see if she could use the novel to clear her head, at least until Zaina comes by.
Today was gonna make it a week and four days since Raghav left for the business training, and a whole lot had happened, like in a flash.
Initially she asked Raghav to take her with him, but he couldn’t, it wasn’t possible. This was like a student visa, for one. He couldn’t take her with him.
First, the Queen had returned, mentioning not returning back to be with the King as usual, insisting on staying at the palace and oversee things as Raghav would be absent for a while. She had instead sent a handful of the palace maids to go be with him.
Then here comes Vidya, she had returned to the palace. Rumours had it that it was Queen Arya who asked her to return, and await the Prince. Like really? She made a face.
Hmph, she walked up to the window and looked out the driveway, hoping to see the sky blue Ferrari car of her best friend, Zaina.
She has been her only companion these trying days, infact, she had taken an impromptu break from school, just to be with her. Today, she promised to be around, and now she was expecting her.
Soon she saw her car coming in, and a weak smile appeared on her face. Not bothering to go welcome her or opening the door, she stood still where she was and waited for her.
Minutes later the door opened and Zaina sauntered in.
“I knew you must be here”, she said closing the door behind her. “This is…, should I say, your mourning room once you return from school”, she walked to the bed and dropped her bag. Her eyes caught the novel which Rina had dropped and she picked it up.
Rina sighed and turned to look at her. Zaina wouldn’t understand, couldn’t she see herself? Enjoying her man without any hitches or hindrance from anyone whatsoever, why was hers different?
“Read this”, Zaina said and tossed the book back on the bed, then she walked up to Rina.
Rina studied her, she was looking beautiful as always. Hmm, Zashil was really doing his job, a great one at that.
“What are you thinking about?” Zaina jumped on her in a hug, snapping her out of her reverie.
She sighed, and weakly hugged her back.
“Jeez Zaina, I’m gradually going nuts”, she said.
“Oh come on, you shouldn’t”, she disengaged from the hug and held her hands. “We are all here for you. Raghav might not be here in person, but he’s here in the spirit, with you”, she smiled.
“Come on”, she held her by her hand and together they both walked to the bed, and they sat.© NôvelDrama.Org - All rights reserved.
“Few weeks to come, your Raghav would be back, come on, cheer up”, she said and tickled her.
Rina was forced to smile, then harder, then it turned to a laugh. Zaina joined, and they both began laughing, laughing non-stop, till tears came out from the sides of their eyes.
“Oh my God, can’t believe we… we are still laughing”, Rina said still laughing.
“That is just the spirit. The spirit I want”, Zaina said, still trying to control her laugh.
“Thank you baby Z, what would I have done…”.
“Without me”, Zaina said in a rush, interrupting her, and they laughed again.
“Thank you”, and they hugged again.
***
Vidya walked along the hallway, stylishly raising up her flowing gown to let her walk properly. A maid suddenly ran past her and hummed a greeting.
What! Like what the hell! She felt stung like stung by a bee. She halted at once and stamped her right foot on the floor.
“You idiot!” She shouted so loud that the maid who had by now was few doors passed away from her, heard her and halted.
“Come back right here”, she ordered.
The maid made some grumbling sounds and began making a u-turn. She walked up briskly to her and stood.
“Are you nuts? Didn’t you see me?” She asked.
“I’m sorry ma’am…”, a very defeaning slap arrested her remaining words.
“Who the hell are you referring to as ma’am? Huh? Don’t you know who I am?” Vidya raged in anger.
The maid was gobsmacked, as she held her cheek where the slap had landed. Like, it was ma’am they were calling her the last time she was at the palace.
“Ugh, I… I don’t get”, she said, still rubbing her cheek.
“Fool. Refer to me as Princess, as from today, have I made myself clear?” She asked.
Huh? The maid’s eyes widened in shock. Princess? For what? How? She wasn’t one yet, even if she was gonna be, she had to be patient.
“Are you now deaf? Or do you need another resetting slap?” Vidya jolted her out of her reverie.
“Oh yes, no, I mean no. Uhm, okay Princess”, she said, stuttering.
“Good. And tell that to those useless maids hovering around the palace, trying to take my Prince”, she said and walked away.
“Okay Princess”, the maid slowly replied as she watched her leave, still rubbing her slapped cheek.
Vidya felt so satisfied with herself as she walked away, smiling so deeply. She was heading for the living room where the Queen had invited her for a talk.
She didn’t know what they were about to talk about, but all the same, she kept her hopes so high.
She entered the living room and looked around, then she saw her sitting on the biggest couch in the room, and taking some wine. A maid was standing close by. Oh my! She has kept her waiting.
She immediately walked up to her.
“Your Grace”, she bowed down.
Queen Arya smiled and asked her to get up.
“I’m so sorry for keeping you waiting my Lady”, she said, pouting.
“Awwwwn”, Queen Arya laughed and waved it off.
“You are the one actually worried, I’m not. You didn’t keep me waiting dear, have a seat”, she motioned and Vidya sat down on the sofa adjacent her.
“Care for?” The Queen asked, raising up her glass of wine for Vidya to see.
Wow! Vidya almost jumped up high, infact in her mind at that moment, she was dancing so hard. Gee! The Queen offering her drink to her? She smiled.
“Yes your Grace, if you wouldn’t mind”, she said.
Arya turned to the maid and she made to serve Vidya. She took from the wine glasses on the side table beside her, and handed it to Vidya. Then she took the bottle of wine and opened it, then proceeded to pour her some.
“Thank you”, Vidya said to the maid, regretting doing that. Like, even Ava back at home has never received a thanks from her, let alone these palace maids. Ugh, she was only doing this because the Queen was here.
“Let’s make a toast then”, Arya said and dropped her glass on the table for a refill. The maid did refill, and she picked it up.
“Oh!”, Vidya mouthed and giggled.
“A toast to the bride for the Prince”, she said and Vidya got up, chucking and walked up to her.
“Cheers!” They chanted as their glasses clanked against each other. Vidya walked back to her seat and sat, and slowly began sipping her wine.
There was a little silence for a while as they both glued their eyes on the gigantic television set hung on the wall. Then Vidya made to break the silence.
“Um… your Grace, I really want to say a big thank you for this great and rare honour you have so given to me. Seriously, I don’t even know what I ever did to deserve it”, she said, grinning from ear to ear.
Arya smiled and dropped her glass.
“You really don’t have to thank me okay? I just think this is all I can do for my best friend, which is your mum. She was really a good friend to me until I got married. She is still a good friend”, she said and winked.
Vidya chuckled.
“Nevertheless Rani, thank you so much”, she greeted.
“Okay so I called for this talk in order to make my mind known to you. First, I want to really apologize for what happened, I mean, my son asking you to leave the palace because of a pauper”.
“A mere pauper my Queen”, Vidya gushed, even before she could stop herself. She almost interrupted.
“Like I was so angry when you and your mom called to tell me about it”, Arya said and Vidya calmed down. She thought she has been too faster than her shadows, but Arya said nothing anyway.
“I’m so sorry about that Vidya, it only happened as a result of my absence”, she said.
Vidya smiled.
“It’s okay Your Grace, as long as the Prince remains mine, it’s fine”, she found herself saying.
“Oh, alright dear. Okay, so this is the main reason I called you. You are here to make the Prince, my son love you, and forget about any other”, she paused to see her reaction.
Vidya nodded.
“Okay”.
“Good, if there’s anything you can do to make him yours, do. You are already his, just make him yours and he is yours forever. I assure you that”.
She smiled.
“Really?”
“Yeah. But you see, he is so difficult that even I, can’t get through him. But the game is up to you now, the ball is in your court. Do all you can within your power to make him yours”.
Wow! Vidya was gobsmacked.
“Like really your Majesty? Anything I can?”
“Just anything that would make him yours”, she said.
Well, there’s nothing Vidya hasn’t tried, during her previous stay at the palace, she had done everything, impressed him, tried to get a conversation with him, even told him she loved him, like everything. But there’s one thing she hadn’t ever tried, and now, here was the Queen asking her to do anything to get Raghav.
“Your Majesty?” She called.
“Yes my dear”, she said, picking up her wine glass from the table.
“Can I?… Can I like, se… seduce him?” She asked, stuttering.
Arya bursted into laughter at once, almost spilling her drink away. Vidya became befuddled. Why the laugh?
“My dear, that is what I’ve been trying to tell you using codes, do that. If that’s the only way you can get my son to like you, do it”, she said.
Wow, she almost clapped her hands in happiness.
“Thank you my Lady, thank you”, she said.
“You are so welcome, enjoy your drink”, she said.
Vidya was so happy within her, she just couldn’t wait to get to her room so she could jump out and scream, or tell Roshni, or her mom. She was just so happy. Now, she doesn’t even know when Raghav would be returning. She turned to Arya.
“My Lady, when would he be returning?” She asked.
“In a week’s time, you know the three weeks has been extended? So just chill okay. You gonna see your man soon”, she said.
“Oh my gee! Can’t wait”, she said.
Arya chuckled and turned back to the television, fixing her eyes on it. Vidya was also watching, but in actual fact, she was drifting away in her reverie.