The baby shower ceremony was started and everybody was enjoying while dancing and singing. Saudamini was seated at the centre and once in a while somebody will come and give their blessings.

Anamika and her mom were walking towards the room where the ceremony is held. Anamika couldn't help but think about the last time she attended the ceremony which was approximately ten years ago when Saudamini was pregnant for the first time. That time yuvraj was not there in the palace as he was engrossed in the war.

Anamika arranged all the gifts she should give to Saudamini on the occasion of baby shower. She was not yet experienced to hide her emotions though she was determined for it.

Already she was going through severe mental stress, remembering that the baby was that of her husband's. She should have been there, sitting in the middle, smiling and enjoying the ceremony. But destiny had other plans and here she is preparing for the baby shower ceremony of her husband's second wife.

Asking the dasis to take all the things, she started walking towards the ceremony hall. She kept all her negative emotions away and went to wish Saudamini with only positive emotions as the baby shouldn't get affected by anything negative.

She entered the hall and all the laughters died down. Ranisa welcomed her with a sarcastic smile on her face, "Welcome Badi bahuranisa! Congratulations on becoming badi masa. "

Anamika thanked her with a smile. Ranisa continued, "But your situation shouldn't come to anyone. See you have become badi masa even before becoming masa. So sad. I pity you Anamika".

Anamika was not affected by such statements as she has been living with these taunts for the past few years since her marriage. Irked by the lack of response from Anamika, Ranisa continued to speak or let's say spew venom, "But atleast My wish got fulfilled. I going to be a grandmother soon. That too only by my effort to make yuvraj married again to Saudamini. Otherwise I couldn't even imagine what would have happened."

Anamika just looked at her with blank face and said, "Congratulations to you too Ranisa on becoming a grandmother!"

"Getting pregnant within a few months of marriage is not just a blessing but also needs love and passion from your husband. I'm thankful that Saudamini got that", this time Saudamini's mother Meenavathi spoke.

Yuvraj is still a sour topic for Anamika and they hit the weakest part of her. Anamika got vulnerable for a moment but recovered quickly. Saudamini who was looking down till then not wanting to acknowledge anything they were doing to Anamika, blushed on hearing her mother's statement.

Anamika ignored her statement and turned towards Saudamini and wished her and gave the gifts to her. When she was about to go, Meenavathi told Ranisa, "I think we should avert evil eyes from Saudamini and the baby. There are some people who are jealous of what she has. So we should do that before anything wrong happens."

Anamika's back was facing them and she held her tears so as not to breakdown in front of these people.

Ranisa said, "Don't say inauspicious things Meenavathi. Nothing bad will happen." But Ranasa's sisters interrupted her and said, "Bhabhi sa, there is nothing wrong in what she said. Our kingdom is going to get a heir after almost 5 years of expectations. We should be extra careful."

The other sister said, "yes bhabhi sa, especially when you have a barren girl nearby the baby all the time." Anamika couldn't hold back anymore, so she calmly got out of the hall and let her tears strain her cheeks. Once back in her chamber, Anamika composed herself.

After the ceremony ended, Ranisa came to meet her and said, "Anamika, I came to tell you that hereafter please don't attend such ceremonies. I know you are mature and don't have any bad intentions towards the baby but we can't keep others mouth shut. So it's better if you don't attend it. It's for your good only Anamika." Ranisa left from there leaving Anamika in her thoughts.

That was the first as well as last time she attended the ceremony. But she never let her feelings or insults get on her way of responsibilities. As the badi bahuranisa, she had to gift Saudamini so she would call her mother everytime and send all the gifts through her.

Anamika and her mother reaches the ceremony hall with all the gifts carried by dasis. Seeing Anamika attending the ceremony after years came as a shock to many who are unaware of her pregnancy. Only their immediate family members know about her pregnancy to avoid any mishaps.

Both of them greeted the other ladies present over there which includes Ranisa, Meenavathi and Ranasa's sisters. Ranasa's sisters don't have any specific vengeance towards Anamika but they were jealous when Ranasa favoured Anamika in various instances instead of them.

Ranisa gave a hesitant smile to both of them and Anamika returned the same. Meenavathi ignored them both and stood up to start the ceremony. She gave her blessings to her daughter and said, "I wish you that you get blessed with a baby boy atleast this time and the kingdom gets its heir."

Both Ranisa and Saudamini remained silent though they knew that the wish will not come true. One by one Ranisa and others came and gave their blessings.

Atlast Anamika and her mother came and gave their gifts and blessings. Saudamini was feeling awkward as well as defeated. Till now during all the baby shower ceremonies, she had a sense of achievement that Only she was the one who could be able to bear a child for yuvraj. But now everything has changed. She got the feeling of going back to the same position which she was in before the first child, UNWANTED. She has nothing special when compared to Anamika and the only thing she had which differentiated them both is now gone.

Before the ceremony ended, Yuvraj came to the hall as it was needed that Husband should sit with his wife. But due to other works yuvraj was not able to be here from the beginning so he came before it gets ended. Saudamini didn't feel bad for his absence because for all the previous baby showers he was not even in the palace except once.

It was Saudamini's second baby shower that yuvraj attended. He asked no-one in particular, "Where is Anamika? why is she not here? ". Meenavathi replied, "Leave it yuvraj. Anamika might be jealous as she is not able to become a mother and so she skipped the ceremony". Yuvraj stood up immediately and looked at her sharply, "Rani Meenavathi, You better keep a watch on your words. Anamika is not your Dasi that you are speaking ill about her. She is the future queen so better learn to respect her. I would go and ask her to come here".

When he was about to go, Ranisa stopped him and said, "Yuvraj, Don't bring her here now. I'm not saying this because I think she is jealous. But I don't want her to be hurt seeing all this. That's why leave her alone now and once the ceremony ended, you can go and meet her. ok". Though yuvraj initially protested, eventually he agreed and thought of visiting Anamika later, only for the 'later' to never come.

Still Meenavathi was not satisfied and fumed in anger and continued, "How can Anamika become Queen yuvraj? She doesn't have a heir, not even a girl child for that matter. Saudamini is the one who made you a father and soon she will give you a heir. She is the one who should be the queen."

Yuvraj replied, "Rani Meenavathi, Producing a child is not the only quality of a queen. It is not a speciality or uniqueness of Saudamini that she is a mother. Every woman has that blessing to have a child. Will all of them be queens? No, There are many other qualities that a queen should have which only Anamika has. So it was already decided by Ranasa even before my marriage with Anamika. So it would be better if you don't question Ranasa's decisions. "

His voice commanded that it's the end of argument. So Meenavathi didn't argue further. But there was another person who was irked by this declaration and decided to make Anamika's life in the palace, a living hell. That is none other than Ranisa.

end

Yuvraj did his part of the ritual to Saudamini as the ceremony has almost ended. He greeted everyone present there and looked at Anamika. She greeted him and he nodded at her and then everyone dispersed from there.

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Your comments will encourage me to write more and correct my mistakes.

Thanks,

SM.