How can you be happy when the person you love is sad....??

but still secretly.... I was ' The most happiest person right now ' , I never could have imagined that something like that can even happen and that too by Nandini..... and honestly I was left dumbfounded about whatever happened a while ago. ..... but the thing is , why would she do that ?? Why she'd lied to her father, and not just any lie , A huge lie which destroyed her character in front of her father,... such a lie , which can surely make a father hate his own daughter forever...??

Thousands of questions were popping in the my mind right now Which can be only answered by her but She is now in her delicate state of mind and I don't want to dare cause her anymore pain to her So I am going to wait for the correct time.

Shaktinand just left from the Palace leaving Nandini crying just like a small kid who's forcefully separated away from his own patents .

While sitting next to her many a times I thought to stretching my hand and light place it on her shoulder and let her know that I am here with her and she's not at all alone and I will always be with her but I kept on withdrawing my hand away again and again while she cried closing her eyes and placeing her hand on her chest as if it pained her there the most.

After a little while Dhai Ma entered in the courtroom. The look on her face, itself told that she was highly confused to see the The broken pieces of the huge oil lamp in the middle of the room, ..... the absence of Shaktinand... and Nandini sitting on the floor leaning her back on the pillar behind her and crying helplessly while I sat next to her on my knees looking at her sadly.

However later she must have understood the situation and Without any question or inquiry Dhai Ma took Nandini with her further inside the palace.

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Inspite of pacing left and right in front of the guest room which is now Nandini's room , I am waiting for Dhai Ma to come out which was feeling like forever as I am just eager to rush into the room where she is and beg her to clear all my doubts and questions which were bubbling up in my mind after watching everything which just happened in the courtroom, a while ago .

But I thought of giving a little more time to her and let her speak to Dhai Ma as right now a women to women talk is just the need of the time ...But still being highly impatient and failing to stop myself, I just walked ahead and stood by the open door of the room without making them notice about my presence.

I saw Nandini's back as she sat on the bed facing to the window while Dhai Ma who faced Nandini, now rolled her eyes to notice me standing by the door . It seemed that they were having some heart to heart talks, most probably about the current situation.

I could make out that Nandini was not crying now but she was very sad as seriousness and grief was airing around her. I was glad that Dhai Ma was here especially at this point of time when an elderly person was very much needed around us to guide us both.

Watching me standing by the door , Dhai Ma spoke to Nandini

" If you don't mind Nandini, I am going to have some rest in my room .... but I'll be back soon..."

Nandini lifted up her chin sadly to look at her and nodded her head lazily indicating ' okay '.

I think she doesn't speak much when she is hurt or sad as this was a very new information which I just learnt by my experience with Nandini.

" If you need me just Send a word . May God be with you my dear . " said Dhai Ma placeing her wrinkled hand lightly on Nandini's cheek and walked past me and left the room silently and let me have a space to talk to her.

Holding my hands behind my waist I stepped in the room and halted next to her. She was absolutely unaware about my presence while I stood behind her .

" ...Ahem .." I made a throat clearing sound to indicate About my presence.Nandini stiffened a bit as she went a little conscious.

" Are you okay ..?? " I asked her in my softest humble tone.

Just Like before , she lightly nodded her head meaning that she was okay and did not speak this time either.

I inhaled a deep breath, not feeling fine about 'she not speaking a word atall' but I guess I can't do anything about it. I took a step forward to stand right beside her and also to view atleast her side face to study her expressions.

" Why did you do that Nandini?....... Why you did not go with your father when everything was clear ?? The fight got stopped .... I gave the permission... You were free to go then why sabotage the opportunity of your own freedom..?? " I asked looking at her .

But again.... she did not speak , Unable to bear her silence, when I seriously needed answers from her where she was the only one to give them , I joked in my jovial tone.

"Tell me Nandini........ or Do you want me to wear a mask to speak to you and Maybe then you will feel free to speak to me... ? " I joked purposely as to remind her that I am also her friend, whom she once knew as Shourya.

Hearing this ,her corner of her lips curved a bit as she couldn't stop herself to give a small smile.

My lips curved too , to see a little smile on her sad face which was like a thin line of a sunrays in a dark.

" You have to tell me Nandini because I cannot understand your reason to do that... it is important for me to know... " I pleaded.

She grew uncomfortable while she looked elsewhere to avoid any chance of our eye contact and stood up and walked near the window of this room to create a distance between us and trying to avoid answering me .

But suddenly she spoke placing her left hand on the windowsill and facing me a little still avoiding her eye contact.

" I was never fainted in the battleground there . It was my and Dhai Ma's plan to stop the fight between you and my father..."

I can't imagine my relief to hear her sweet voice after such a long silence of her. Being confused I croak

" What..??"

" Yes it was a total sham carried by both of us As this was the only way to stop that unnecessary fight because we didn't want to let either of you get hurt. It was just a chance which we took . We were not sure whether it was going to work or not but luckily it did and fortunately you too could relate what I already gauged in the courtroom when my father challenged you to get into that insane fight as My father's had his own hostile intention for you. " she spoke in her sweet hushed voice.

I was stunned to hear this from her while looking at her with my mouth agape.

" So you were not fainted ...?? but why not tell me ..?"

" Dhai Ma did it right to not take any risk to leak this information about the sham not even by telling it to you as we just let it keep going with the flow."

I lowered my head exhaling a deep breath again.

" humm....." I nodded my head understanding her point.

" .....I got that ... and indeed it was very thoughtful of you and Dhai Ma to stop the fight but still ......... My question remained unanswered. Why you stayed Nandini... ?? and,... and why did you lie to your father about your ..... our ... I mean ,...I hope you understand what I am trying to say.... where nothing of that sort ever happened.... between us??" I spoke looking at her waist which was unintentionally inviting me to caraze her semi exposed skin but I quickly blinked away to stay focused about what she has to say as I didn't wanted to miss any information passing from her lips because of my sexual distraction.

She blinked several times being uneasy darting her eyes restlessly but after a long pause she spoke maintaining her same tone...

" .... Yes, I lied.... I lied to my father.... everything I told about me being touched.... by ..... by ... you " she hesitated

" .....was a lie.... because that was the only way left for me ...... it was the only way to make my father go without me.... " she spoke while fidgeting with her dupatta.

"....... and after your granted the permission , I was left with no option " she spoke reflecting a little annoyance in her eyes still looking elsewhere.

" ..... and to stop him do that it was the only was left for me . I knew that once I was gone I will never be able to see anyone from here and so I thought of it . I took a chance to lie him about my..... my.... my virginity" she hesitated again.

"....... because I knew no father can bare this sin of his daughter . Especially my father, who clearly cannot bare that his daughter has crossed her boundaries with his most hated enemy.... he either would have killed me or would have abandoned me here for good ..... and after learning his only love for his pride and ignorance for me I was sure that he will do something of that sort......" She paused a bit to wipe a tiny drop of her tear which dropped from her eyes and continued speaking in her shaky sad voice.

"...... and when you wanted to help me from my fathers grip, I had to stop right there because your involvement between us could have refueled the extinguished fire of fight which I and Dhai Ma somehow managed to put off .........And That is why I had to lie my father as that was the only way to avoid any bloodsheds for the sake of my name. And it was the only way to keep my father safe ... to ..to keep you safe." She explained speaking a little fast.

"But still ....." I paused realising something pinching her brows.

My heart skipped a beat realising what she just said about ' to keep me safe '.

" wait... what did you just say ?? " I asked her being confused.

"I can understand your concerns for your father.... that you wanted to keep him safe but....... why did you wanted to keep ME safe Nandini ??? .... you hated me and I know you have your reasons to do that ...... and nor do I blame you for that ?? You could have let your father kill me but why you wanted to save me ??"

The look in her face changed realizing that she had unknowingly blurted out something which she shouldn't have said. As if I have caught her red handed for committing a secret crime. She went uncomfortable and Her eyes darted everywhere again, trying to avoid my question as she was clearly not able to answer me.

"Answer me Nandini..... ??"

The room fell silent as I was waiting for her to say something.

I kept my eyes on hers even if she tried hard to avoid meeting mine.

"Answer me.... please..??"

But again she sealed her lips while breathing hard and quickly turned her back to me and looked out of the window.

I don't know what she meant by 'to keep me safe' .... and I don't know what I am thinking is right or it is just my stupidity but whatever it is I just want it to hear it out from her....

Turning her back and being absolutely silent was making me restless as I was unable to hold my patience While hanging in a doubtful suspense situation. I somehow wanted to know about it right now but her stubbornness and her silence was pissing me off from the core.

Looking at her sexy back, .... her hips..... and her butt , My eyes grew dark with desire to have her by the window. I took my slow steps towards her and towered over her back and placed both my hands on the windowsill containing her inside me.

She took an audible gaspe in shock to find me uncomfortably close to her body as I stood just behind her almost leaveing an inch like space between my chest and her back. I saw her chest rises and fall in tension. I brought my lips closer to her ear and spoke in my hushed voice

" .... Tomorrow we are getting married...... and when you'll become my wife and the Queen of this kingdom, I can make you speak up between your pleasured moans beneath me , in my bed , while I slowly strip off your virginity for real, but...... I won't do that because that is not the definition of my love" " I will not touch you without your consent until you tell me what you really feel for me; and you should know that for sure that I will wait for you even if you take forever to tell it. Because Nandini. I have..... and I always will love you ." saying that I pulled away from her and walked out of the room.

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🧚‍♀️: Do tell me how was this CHAPTER in your comments. Which I always eagerly wait for ??

⚫ I am sorry for such a delay but this delay was due to an occurrence of very unfortunate event in my family and hence couldn't really concentrate in my story for many days.😔😣

Till then take care and

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