[ CHAPTER XXXVI ]
"Your highness, is it the right time to go there? It's quite late now" Biuja asked as she followed behind Somakshya who was walking ahead anxiously. At this time other than the guards there's no maid in services. Only their footsteps echoed in the corridor.
"I understand, but I couldn't just settle my heart with the current tension going in. So much thing has happening and everything around is quite confusing. I really need to talk to the Emperor about it"
Biuja sighed again. Since the matter was started Somakshya didn't slept a good sleep. She always looked tensed and anxious. The matter of divorce is quite overwhelming for her that she couldn't just accept it. Even though she did assured Nandini about it, in her heart she really don't want to let Nandini go.
Ishank who was guarding the door of Emperor's private chamber was startled by the sudden appearance of Queen Dowager. He stared at her with surprise and felt cold sweat running down his back. At this moment his master is with mistress and the visit of Queen Dowager seemed quite important. How could he go in and alarm them? It was highly possible to see unwanted scenary inside.
"Your highness" Ishank bowed calling out politely.
"Has the Emperor woken up?" Somakshya asked.
"Master worked hard till the late night so he isn't awake at this moment Your highness, do you want to meet him?" Ishank asked.
"I have some urgent matter to talk to him. Help me pass this message" Somakshya nodded.
Ishank felt tense, "your highness, could you wait for sometime? Master gets displeased when he is disturbed while resting. I will inform about this matter as soon as he wake up" he tried his best to stop the old woman. He really don't want to show any disrespect to her. If it was on normal days then it wouldn't be much of a problem. But master is spending time with mistress and such moments are inconvenient to break.
Somakshya wasn't happy with the response. " I have an urgent matter to discuss. It wouldn't take much time. Go and inform the emperor" she persisted.
Ishank pursed his lips trying to think of a way to stop her. What should he say now? The woman was the high ranked royalty, and also Emperor's birth mother. If she keep persisting he wouldn't have a choice but to go inside to inform. But the inside was also a chaotic one. What he is going to do now? Both sides are quite dangerous to defy. He started to do silent prayer.
" Your highness, it's not convenient to go inside at this moment" Ishank said again hoping the other person wouldn't cause more trouble for him.
But the more he refused, the more impatient Somakshya grew. She frowned at him then her expression changed, "just inform the Emperor that I am here to talk about some important matter. He wouldn't get angry. Go inform him now" her voice changed in ordering matter.
Ishank felt helpless. He was hesitating about what to do now. Looking at Somakshya's expression she didn't look like she wanted to hear any excuses. Seeing the hesitation Somakshya couldn't wait anymore and directly walked inside. Ishank looked worried and quickly followed behind her.
Inside the chamber, Nandini was tired. Her husband didn't let her sleep at all. The sky outside started to show the effect of morning but there's still some darkness lingering around. She pulled the silk cloth to hide her nakedness and tried to get down the bed but as soon as she attempted she was pulled back and pressed on the bed again. The silk cloth slid down her body.
"What are you doing?" Let me go" she tried to push him away but he caught her hand and pulled it at side pressing it down. Leaning closer while grinding skin to skin he whispered.
" I want you now" he leaned to kiss her neck.
" Dont—" she was saying when another voice interrupted.
" What are you doing?"
The voice startled them. Nandini pushed him away quickly grabbing the silk cloth hiding her body. Her expression changed into terrified one. Seeing the person infront of her made her heart beat faster than usual.
Somakshya stood there looking stunned. Her breath got stuck in throat as she stared at them with wide eyes. Ishank who just followed behind quickly turned around and left the room. His intentions was to stop the guests but seeing the scene he decided to leave. Manik was surprised at first but calmed down then wrapped another silk cloth around his waist before getting down the bed. Such scene infront burnt Somakshya's heart.
How could this happen? Her son who used to be so devoted to his wife, how can he turned around doing such outrageous thing when she is dead? That too with his nephew's wife? Another portion of anger surged in her heart and before she could control she went to him and slapped hard on the face. Nandini gasped at the sight. This is the second time Somakshya slapped him. Manik didn't reacted yet told in his soft tone.
"Get dress and rest in your room. Let me handle it" such tone of voice was rare to hear. He never used such soft tone except his wife which surprised Somakshya more.
Nandini get down the bed still clutching the silk cloth and looked at him worriedly. He revealed a small smile before assuring in his gentle tone again, "go ahead, I am fine"
She nodded then glanced at Somakshya before exiting the room. Jeia who was already waiting at the door immediately put on a coat on her body before they left completely. Silence again fell in the room. Somakshya's hard breathing pierced through the silent before her angry words feel to finally break the silence.
"Manik what were you doing? This is not what I was expecting from you. Your wife just died and you are having affair with your nephew's wife? " Somakshya couldn't believe her eyes at all. Two of them being so intimate, it still feels like surreal to her.
"She is mine" Manik's reply at the end was simple and short. It was like he don't even want to give any explanation at all which somehow angered Somakshya more.
" What nonsense are you saying? Don't you feel shame? You're insulting your wife's soul by cheating like this" though the former empress was already dead but Somakshya still felt that Manik cheated on her.
" Mother" Manik sighed, at this moment any explanation is futile. " Now that you have seen, let me clear something to you" his eyes hold coldness to the point of freezing, totally different from what she saw few minutes ago. " I never cheated nor will ever do that" it sounded more like a vow, unbreakable.
" Never cheated? Then what were you doing with her? Getting intimate with her yet still denying?" The more Somakshya said the more she gets angry.
Seeing him silent she said again, " have you forgotten that you are her elder? You're her uncle-in-law. Before anyone could know this you have to stop whatever it is. I don't want to know how did you two get involved with eachother so closely but it have to end here, today, right at this moment" she told him fiercely.
But such confrontation didn't end well on the other side. End everything? Stop whatever it is? Those words only ends with one answer — impossible. He looked at her with an unreadable expression. What he replied wasn't something Somakshya was expecting.
" Mother please do not interfere in my matter. I don't like it when others middle in too much unnecessarily. You know me don't you?" After saying such words he walked towards the side room to bath but stopped again before looking at her, " and I don't want to talk about it anymore. Also please don't think about confronting her too, she is mine and there's nothing that can take her away from me" then he disappeared insyde the room.
Somakshya couldn't help but felt her legs were weak and her body swayed slightly. Biuja was fast enough to hold her.
"Your highness, are you alright?"
"What's happening? One after another incident—" her voice choked at the end and Somakshya couldn't say anything more.
Biuja supported her, " your highness let's return to the room first. You need to rest"
Somakshya couldn't only nod. Bujia helped her to leave the private chamber of Emperor. The reason she came to meet suddenly left in the forgotten land.
Nandini sat in her room looking depressed. Jeia looked at her then asked her in gentle tone, " mistress do you want to sleep for a while? It's still early"
" Sleep?" Nandini sighed. She don't think she can still rest while her mind is in chaos with thoughts. Today she never expected that Somakshya would witness the intimacy. Though she has expected it long before but not like this. This is not how she ever wanted Somakshya to find out the secret affair.
She is not divorced yet and it means Amey's name was still atteched to her and their affair would be considered as a forbidden one in Somakshya's eyes who is religious in thoughts and acts. She also knew the confrontation between the mother and son wouldn't be happy either. Somakshya wouldn't accept the relationship and Manik wouldn't agree to her.
"It's already morning. There's no need to sleep anymore. Prepare a bath for me. I need to wash"
Jeia nodded and quickly went to the side room.
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Chapter is short today. Because of some reason I was inactive these few days and the updates are delayed. I am planning to finish this story soon so I will prepare regular updates from tomorrow onwards.
Anyways wish you all MERRY CHRISTMAS 🎄
HOPE 🎅 WILL BRING YOU THE GIFT OF 'WISHES COME TRUE'
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