"Stop stop stop" I said to Brinda as I sat next to her. Squatting down, in front of the brick gas stove in the kitchen.

I smiled at the familiar smell as I arranged the plates and spoons. I had decided to prepare ramen, that I had downloaded from my cart in my PA's absence.

I wanted my new friends to get a glimpse of my world. As much as I could show them, without being questioned about.

It was around 2.30am when I last saw the time on my Q when my favorite meal was getting downloaded.

I wished I had added even alcohol to my cart.

If you make me choose between all royal delicacies on one hand and noodles, be it any, on the other, I would still opt for the latter.

Brinda looked at the hot meal in doubt and hesitancy, not sure if it was worth eating .I gave out a suppressed laugh at this, nodding at her in reassurance that this was indeed FOOD.

We arranged 3 plates and took them out to the table.

The one where I and the king had our coffee, together.

The table brought back memories, of his, that I almost immediately pushed at the back of my mind. I was scared that someone can read through my thoughts.

Yug was seated there, waiting for us. He had arranged candles so that the space doesn't appear as dark as it did.

He was not in favor of my 'late night' snack program, since it was not 'healthy'.

But even if everyone knows, who cares right.

And although he was against it, I managed to convince him otherwise. I know more than my words, it was the fact, that he did not get to see me throughout the day, that convinced him to be here, even though his 'self-discipline' taught him otherwise.

Yug and Brinda both hesitated to be seated at the same table, I could see that. They looked at each other, and Brinda stood beside me, with her plate in her hand for a little too long.

"Is there a problem if she sits here?" I asked him.

I know there was.

That he was a minister and she was a servant. That he was from a higher class, and she was from a lower one. I know it was a huge problem. I knew, but I still couldn't get myself to understand it.

I came from the time, where we slept on the same bed with our pets. I believed they could atleast share a same table with the humans.

"uh.. um .." he hesitated to be honest, I didn't even expect him to understand. "..ok. yes...no there is no issue." Yug agreed to it.

OMG I love this man.

It came out as a shock, both to me and Brinda.

But I was happy about it. I was proud about it. I was proud of Yug.

He invited Brinda to sit with us, and timid as she is, she still moved her chair more towards me, to sit next me.

I smiled at her, and smiled at Yug.

I was impatient. I wanted to taste my portion of junk food. I was impatient to know how does it taste if I taste it, 600 years in the past. But more than that, I was impatient, to see their reactions.

The two humans sitting with me, analyzing the dish, and not being so sure of it. I raised my eyebrows and nodded my head when Yug looked up at me with that are you sure face.

Both of them took their first bites, and I was busy studying their expressions. And the way they changed faces, I knew Yug liked it, but Brinda did not.

"It. Is. Delicious."Yug said, and I could see his pupil dilate slowly, with the smile that appeared after his first bite.

"I know right!"

We both turned to Brinda for her to give her inputs. "it is....nice." she said meekly. I couldn't help but laugh at this. I knew she did not really like it.

"..and?" I asked her to continue.

".. but the texture.... It looks like I am eating snakes." I bursted in to a loud roar, that occupied the silence in this room.

Yug joined me, and chortled at the 'not so wrong' description.

"what's going on here" a familiar voice filled the room, making all of us go silent.

He was standing there, erect. Looking fine as hell even at this hour of the night.

Both my table mates stood up with heads bowed down, at his presence. I was fixed at my place. Not that I wanted to stand up, but even if I tried I knew I wouldn't be able to move.

I could hear my heart thump in my chest. I knew I was nervous. But it was a good nervous, if that makes sense.

Not like the one, where you are sweating and dying with anxiety just before you're called for viva. Or not even like the one where you have to go and talk to your crush.

It was a different nervous. Where you experiment and try new dishes at the restaurant, and the restlessness that follows when you see the waiter get that for you.

You're not scared. But you are nervous. Nervous how it'd taste, nervous how it'd feel.

Like the way I am now.

Nervous, how it'd feel.

A good nervous.

Nevertheless, my nerves were acting up, when I saw the authoritative figure stand there, when I saw him move towards us.

"What is on?" he asked again.

"We are just.." Yug spoke meekly, his head yet not looking up at the king.

From what I had known about him, Yug was recently appointed as the minister. That is even obvious given his age and all. He must be around 25 or so. The king looked at the table, and I couldn't read his expressions.

"I completed the statement which Yug had started.

The king opened his mouth, to probably ask me about it, but decided otherwise.

"Why don't you join us your Majesty." Yug was still panicky, even when offering a simple invitation.

"!" I don't know if I was excited or annoyed.

I was staring at his face, trying to read his decision. In vain.

He turned to look down at me, without uttering a word as if asking permission.

The king needs permission? Interesting.

I quickly nodded my head in a yes. I guess I did want him to be here. That too, desperately. He was still hesitant.

"I should take your leave." My PA spoke meekly.

"why can't you be here?" all of them turned to look at me with faces like I just announced my unplanned pregnancy.

"you are saying we all should sit TOGETHER." The king spoke, stressing on the last part of the sentence.

"What is the issue?"

He scoffed at my response. He was offended

"Are you high on your drugs?" his tone wasn't something I was pleased with.

It was my turn to be mad now.

"I really don't understand Why do you guys always think so highly of yourself. I mean I get it, you are the king, THE KING. But you are still a human first.

When you are having lunch, you don't seem to have a problem with sitting with all the ministers together. You don't seem to have a problem with being served by maids, or eating food cooked by them, who are all just like her. Then what is so wrong about her just sitting with us. I don't really get it. You guys are hypocrites." I was furious. I was scared. I was anxious.

But not for a minute, was I guilty.

I know I have told myself, reminded myself dozen of times that this era will challenge my way of thinking. But this. This was just ridiculous.

The king looked at me, his face so red, that I could still easily make it out under the dim lights present.

Brinda was scared, and I could hear her sob as she stood behind me.

"You've crossed the line, you know that right." The king spoke, with the same calmness and confidence that he carries, a little after my rebel.

I nodded, now that I was a little composed. But that doesn't mean I was going to apologize.

Nope. Not happening.

"But that doesn't mean you were completely wrong. Even though I might not be able to get it as a whole." I was amazed with the king's response. I did not, not even for one , thought he would be the one to give in, that too, this early.

"It looks like you're here, to challenge the way I think. But I am not complaining. It's good to have a wide point of view."

I stayed silent at this statement of his.

More often than not, staying here, makes me question how should feel. And now I find myself pondering up on this a lot more than usual.

---

We sat eating, together, the ramen, my favourite ramen, the only thing I know to cook well. The king uttered nothing, neither in favor of nor against the late night snack.

He was quiet.

Quite uncomfortable too.

But I guess I can give him points for trying. All the oldies here.

They are not that rigid, as I thought the old people would be.

Yug had eased out a little now that everything felt okay.

"You shouldn't be awake for long, you have to leave tomorrow. I shouldn't have to tell you that" the king turned to Yug, who again sat erect as soon as the monarch turned to him.

He nodded at the king.

"Going where?" I interrupted. Looking at the King for an answer. He decided to ignore.

What is his problem?

I am sure Yug sensed the tension in the atmosphere, like he always does. He chipped in, to make it less embarrassing and less humiliating for me.

"I am going to another state tomorrow, that comes under His Majesty's Kingdom.

We have to look into the public affairs and look into the public welfare, and see if our people are fine. We have to inspect if our men, posted there, are fulfilling their duties well or no. If people have any complains."

I nodded in an awe at his explanation.

I wished this seriousness was present in our leaders, in 2069.

I don't know who are we voting, what are we voting for.

As much as I was appreciating it, I was also curious.

"Can I come along?"

"Haa?" both the men, also my PA, all turned to look at me.

God I was done guessing if this was a right thing to ask, do, or whatever.

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