The letter and his hotness

Chandrika

"Princess, Rana sa has left his chamber," Vishakha said, coming up to me softly.

"There's no one else in his chamber, right?" I asked.

"No, there's no one inside or outside," she confirmed.

"Good. Come with me quietly," I said, picking up the letter. "Make sure no one sees us."

"But Princess, what will you do in Rana sa's room so early in the morning?" Vishakha asked, walking behind me.

"No questions right now," I said, looking all around as we walked. "I'll tell you everything later."

We reached Rana sa's chamber. "I'm going inside. Keep an eye out so no one comes in," I told Vishakha, and then I went in.

"Yes, Princess," she replied from behind me.

I bit my nails, wondering where I should place this letter so he would notice it.

And then I found the perfect spot. All of his important letters are on that table, so I'll put mine right on top of the pile.

After placing the letter, I went back outside.

"The work is done. Let's go," I said, grabbing Vishakha's hand and walking quickly.

"Chandrika, wait!" my sister's voice called from behind us.

My heart jumped into my throat. Oh God, I hope she didn't see us. Vishakha and I exchanged a panicked look. We slowly turned around. Before she could misunderstand, I had to do something. "Sister, I was just..."

"Come on, let me show you something special," she said with a big smile. "Anyway, what were you trying to tell me?"

I breathed a sigh of relief. "Oh, nothing, Sister. What special thing are you going to show me?"

"Just come," she said.

She led me through her chamber and into a garden. There were thousands of flowers, peacocks, and colorful birds. On one side, there was a lush, green mountain and a swing made of flowers.

"Wow," Vishakha and I said in unison, the word slipping out involuntarily.

"My husband built this garden for me," my sister said, with a wide smile and love in her eyes.

"Wow, Sister, your husband must love you so much," I said. At my words, she looked down shyly with a faint smile.

"And that's not all," she said, her eyes wide with excitement. "There's something else."

"What is it?" I asked.

"Come here," she said. "This garden is connected to the outer hall. We can hide here and watch everything that's happening outside." She pointed to a window hidden by bushes.

I peeked through the window. My brother-in-law and Rana sa were practicing sword fighting. Their upper bodies were bare and slick with sweat. Their muscles rippled in rhythm with every strike. How do they manage to be so captivating? They are so attractive without even trying, and no matter how much we get ready for them, we look dull in comparison.

"Isn't it amazing?" my sister asked.

"Yes, Sister, it's all so beautiful," I said, looking at her.

"Who are you looking at? I'm talking about the garden," she said.

My eyes widened in shock. I quickly turned my attention back to my sister. "Yes, Sister, I was talking about the garden too! It's so beautiful."

"Well, now Kuber sa must be arriving, so we need to prepare their breakfast," my sister said, heading back to her chamber.

"Sister, we'll come with you!" I said.

I helped my sister arrange the breakfast, and a little while later, both my brother-in-law and Rana sa arrived.

The men took their seats. My sister began serving food to her husband and then gestured for me to help. Serving the food is the duty of the daughters-in-law or the women of the house, who are considered the true heart of a home, not the servants.

But being in front of him, meeting his eyes... I don't know why I feel so scared. Or maybe it's not fear. Whatever it is, I can't stay near him for too long. I'm not shy in front of anyone else, but I don't know what happens to me around him.

"Chand..." my sister said again, snapping me out of my thoughts.

I looked at Rana sa, who was patiently waiting for food on his plate. I quickly began to serve him. Then, I went and sat beside my sister.

"Chand, I'm going to go check on the arrangements for the other guests' meals. You'll manage everything here until I get back, won't you?"

"Yes, of course, Sister, why not? You go ahead," I said, reassuring her.

He was quietly busy with his food. As he ate, his throat and the sides of his head moved slightly. His lips were glistening from the oil on the puri. The curry must have been too spicy; he was sweating a little.

I picked up a fan from beside me and started fanning him. But then, I remembered my brother-in-law. What would he think? So I began fanning both of them.

He didn't even look up at me. My brother-in-law had to call out my name, "Chandrika!" to get my attention, as I was so busy watching him.

"Yes, Brother-in-law, do you need something?" I asked, focusing my attention on him.

"No, I was just asking if you've eaten yet."

"No, I'll eat later," I said, even though I was hungry myself.

After he finished his meal, he went to meet a friend who had arrived a little while ago.

I'm just waiting for his letter. I went to my chamber to get ready for the dinner feast.

The feast would be today because Rana sa had not been feeling well yesterday.

"Princess, urvashi sister has sent this dress for you," Vishakha said, coming inside with a pink lehenga in her hands.

The feast is at night, but girls have to start getting ready for it a few days in advance. First, they spend the whole day making their faces glow, then they choose their clothes, and then they put on jewelry and do their hair. All of this takes up the entire day, and yet after the ceremony, they regret it, thinking, "I didn't get ready that well. Next time, I'll do a better job."

Hmmmm...

"Princess, girls make themselves attractive because the more attractive a girl is, the better husband she gets," Vishakha said, putting down the lehenga. "And married girls dress up so that people will know how much their husband loves them."

"But what connection does beauty have to love or getting a good husband?" I asked. "If a girl is dark-skinned but is talented and has a beautiful heart, isn't that better than a woman with a dark heart and a beautiful body?"

"Princess, at the time of marriage, people look at beauty," Vishakha countered, her expression somber. "After marriage, they look for a good heart and blame their fate. But if they had married a girl with a beautiful heart instead of a beautiful one, they would be happy for their entire life. Princess, dark-skinned girls rarely get married or find love. Their lives are as dark and empty as their appearance."

"Vishakha," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "Will the man I love also love me just for my looks?"

"Why would you even think that, Princess? You are a princess whom people call Mother Lakshmi herself," Vishakha said. "People go crazy for your beauty. Whoever sees you once cannot live without marrying you."

"No, Vishakha," I insisted. "I don't love him for his body, but for his bravery, his gentle heart, and his generosity. I also want someone to love my heart and the intelligence within me."

"Don't you worry, Princess. Rana sa is a diamond; he will love you very much," she said, gently caressing my cheek.

"Wait, how do you know? I haven't even told you about the letters yet," I said, surprised.

"Princess, I understand at least that much. And besides, whenever you look at him, the sparkle in your eyes gives everything away," she said.

"Well, well, my Vishakha isn't a child anymore!" I said, teasing her.

We both burst out laughing.

"Okay, listen. I've taken out this dress for you," I said, pulling out a red outfit embroidered with gold.

"What? Such a beautiful dress! No, no, Princess, I can't take this," she said, refusing.

"Oh, you silly girl. Your friend is giving it to you! Just take it. Everyone will be looking great, but you'll look just as wonderful. You'll see, someone will even like you in the end. Now, come on, get ready."

"Yes, Princess," she said with a wide smile.

"Okay, listen," I said. "First, give me my ubtan."

"You'll eat first," my sister said, coming inside with a plate of food. "Otherwise, Mother will say you didn't get enough to eat at my in-laws' house."

"Sister, I was hungry," I said, taking the plate from her hands. "But I thought I would eat with you."

"Yes, I wanted that too," she said, arranging the food on the plate. "But with such a big event, I can't find time for anyone. The whole palace is so busy. Now I understand how well Mother-in-law handles everything."

"Oh, you..." I said, and suddenly threw my arms around her. "Sister, I've missed you so much! I don't have anyone like you with whom I can share everything," I confessed.

"You're a crazy girl," she said, hugging me back. "I'm always with you. Here, eat this." She fed me a bite, and I fed her one in return.

After a while, my stomach was so full, but Sister just kept feeding me.

"Sister, no more now, or I'll look fat!" I said, holding my stomach.

"Okay, fine, just one more bite," she said, making a morsel in her hand. "Now that's enough."

I gave her a kiss on her cheek. "Sister, with you loving so much, your husband must be head-over-heels for you!" I said, winking.