Nandini didn't answer, Manik kept his gaze on her, she bowed her head down. Manik smirked, he came to her lifted her chin made her look at him, when she looked at him. He skipped his heart beat, he just felt like he just want her. This never happened with him before. He drowned in her eyes.

When Nandini felt Manik is in deep thinking she took two steps back Manik held her arm as if she is slipping like sand and he is holding her tight. "No never go away from me"

"Yuvaraj!!!! I think you should go for dinner"

Manik left her, she is again looking down, she even started adjusting her dupatta on her head she didn't cover her face Manik smiled

"You too have dinner and sleep, one more thing, your self respect is in your own hands never let anyone snatch it from you, people like Hema should learn lesson if it is from you I feel happy"

"Yuvaraj she is rani sa and it was my fault"

Manik looked at her in anger, he want to shout on her but he stopped himself, he just ruffled his hair "sleep well!!! I will talk later" he went away.

Next day when Nandini woke up she found her dasis are ready with her necessities, she uncomfortably took their help. Siya helped Nandini in taking bath, she made Nandini have haldi and Chandan paste on her whole body she then cleaned it totally, jyothi when found Nandini completed her bath, she brought sambhrani to dry her body and have good smell, when she is dry both helped Nandini to get ready. Nandini is just wearing a chain and a waist chain some bangles. Siya made her hair, Nandini thanked them took dupatta and added it till her head, she looked at her wound once she touched it, she remembered Manik touching it, she pressed her lips, and then adjusted her dupatta on her face, she again remembered Manik's words "don't cover your face in front of me"

Nandini closed her eyes, tried hard to forget everything and concentrate on her work and she went to puja room to do her work, as daily but this time her both dasis are helping her mostly. Nandini became busy in her work.

When it was lunch time, Hema came to kitchen, they found Nandini missing she want to show Nandini her place, she called one of the worker and asked "where he s that new girl?"

"Badi ranisa warned everyone not to let her cook, she will only cook prashad and does puja room works nothing above that"

Hema got more angry she just walked to Nandini's room along with her dasi

When she entered Nandini room, Nandini is reading Mahabharata, she is fully drown in her read she didn't recognised that some one came

Hema got angry as she felt neglected she took the flower vase from side table and dropped it down, it made sound which made Nandini look at the source, she found Hema standing. She did Pranam to book got up then did Pranam to Hema and asked her to sit

"Pranam rani sa!!! Have a seat"

Hema looked around and then again looked at Nandini she smirked "I came to saw that I want you to cook food for all ladies of mahal as I am giving them party and make at least twenty varieties"

Nandini said "as you wish rani sa"

"And one more thing make laddus compulsory"

"Ji rani sa"

"By snacks time make things ready, look I liked the taste of your food so I personally came to ask you, you will not again complain on me to anyone na?"

"Never rani sa"

"Good"

When Hema was about to turn jyothi said "But rani sa, panditayan is not well, she is having fever"

"Jyothi!!!" Nandini stopped her "rani sa I will make them on time" Nandini said Hema smirked and went away.

"Panditayan this not correct Badi rani sa gave strict orders that you will not work in kitchen or any where on top of it you are having high temperature then why did you agree?"

"Siya and jyothi you remember one thing, I am staying in their house, they gave me shelter, food and clothes, Yuvaraj is one who saved me, she is his wife I can never return their favour at least let me try to fulfil such petty things, let us do this and you will never tell this to anyone" Nandini warned them and walked to kitchen.

Nandini is working fast, jyothi and Siya are helping her. First maharaj ji and all workers in kitchen stopped Nandini to work but Nandini convincingly talked to them and started working. She cooked everything, Siya and jyothi took them to Hema place. Hema asked for Nandini.

Nandini came to Hema place. Manik's all wives are sitting in a row. Hema looked at Nandini, Nandini face is pale and she is week too, "What is your name?"

"Rani sa Nandini"

"Ok serve us all"

Nandini nodded and started too serve, they all are gossiping, Nandini stood by a side she is really week. Hema wantedly made Nandini stand for at least two hours. When it was evening puja time all got up to go to their room. Jyothi and Siya removed all food items Nandini did Pranam to Hema and came out of the room, this time didn't stop her.

Nandini came to room and fell on bed she is totally exhausted, sleep took over her. Siya and jyothi started pressing her legs and hands to give her comfort.

Next day Hema dasi came and asked Nandini to meet Hema, Nandini went.

"Children snacks got completed so make some snacks for them"

"Ji rani sa"

"Make some sweets too and make in large amount so that I can store in my room and feed them whenever they ask"

"Ok ranisa"

Nandini came to kitchen jyothi and Siya stopped her, "you are not well panditayan don't stress more maharaji can do them let us tell him"

"No you both just help me"

Nandini took whole day to make them, she couldn't even eat well whole day she felt more week. She when completed her work she took dinner and slept. When Nandini is in deep sleep jyothi and Siya closed her bedroom door and came out

"This is not good!!! Badi bahurani sa is wantedly making this we should inform Badi rani sa" jyothi said

"Yes, if not she will kill us"

"Let us go then"

"No you stay with panditayan I will go and meet her" Siya said to jyothi.

Jyothi agreed.

When Siya informed Leelavati about Hema, she got angry. She got up from her chair "this girl made home hell, because of her, already those five are fighting now she even want Nandini to join them and snatch Manik's peace???? I need to teach her lesson this time"

Leelavati called her dasi "go to Hema and inform that tomorrow early morning come and meet me"

"Yes rani sa" she ran out

Leelavati turned to Siya "take care of Nandini, if anything happens to her king will kill us did you understand?"

"Yes rani sa"

"I will sent doctor, next time you will come to me early not like this time"

"Ok rani sa"

"Go and take care of her" Siya did Pranam and came back.