Time waits for none. It is true as it is eighth month of Anamika's pregnancy in the midst of Ranasa's slow recovery and other tensions looming in the palace because of the intentional omission of Ranisa by Yuvraj in all the matters including the court. A baby shower was planned for Anamika and the preparations started as early as a month ago. Yuvraj didn't allow Ranisa to take part in any of the preparations and gave the entire responsibility to sunaina.

It was already the day of baby shower. Anamika got ready with the help of the dasis. She was waiting for her mother to come and take her to the celebration hall. After a few minutes, Sunaina came to take Anamika with her to the celebration hall. When they entered the hall, Anamika can see that everyone including the guests and Ranasa's sisters were already present over there. Slowly Anamika took her seat in the middle of the hall which is a double seater as usually both husband and wife will be seated during the baby shower ceremony.

Sunaina said addressing the crowd, "Let's start the ceremony within the auspicious time. Yuvraj may join later." Just when she finished, Yuvraj entered the hall surprising everyone, especially Saudamini as this was the first time he attended the ceremony from the beginning. No one raised any questions and Sunaina welcomed him and he took his seat beside Anamika. Sunaina said, "Let's start the ceremony now ".

When Ranisa was about to get up to start the rituals being the mother-in-law as Sunaina was a widow, Sunaina immediately asked one of the guests to start, avoiding Ranisa subtly. But Yuvraj interrupted Sunaina and said, "But the first person to start the ceremony should be from within the family right Maasa. Then why are you asking guests to start? " Sunaina didn't expect this from yuvraj. As she knew about Ranisa's doings, she didn't want Ranisa to start the ritual. Also she was surprised that yuvraj asked this as she thought that he hated his mother for her deeds. Even Ranisa was surprised at this and had a slight hope that yuvraj may forgive her and thought to seek her long-pending forgiveness from Anamika after the ceremony.

Sunaina said to yuvraj, "But yuvraj I want the ritual to be start by a person who wishes good for my daughter and her child. I don't want any evil eyes on them." She said this while looking at Ranisa sideways which yuvraj noticed. Yuvraj replied, "But a true mother will always wish good for her child, Maasa. So why would anyone else would do the ritual when Anamika's mother is beside her?", he emphasized "true" as Ranisa being his mother didn't think about his happiness and emotions. When he finished, everyone was shocked as it was considered really inauspicious for a widow to do such rituals even for their own child. Even Anamika was shocked as she didn't even think about this, while being conscious about yuvraj sitting beside her. She really felt bad when her mother was not involved during her marriage rituals but couldn't do anything as she was nervous about her in-laws. Now that she is in power, she totally forgot about this. During Saudamini's baby shower, she just sent the presents through her mother but sunaina was not involved in the rituals.

Finally composing herself, Sunaina asked, "Yuvraj! that's not possible. I cannot participate in all the auspicious rituals." Yuvraj replied saying, "You have said that you don't want evil eyes on Anamika and the child. I don't think anyone here will have good wishes for them more than you. So I insist you should start this ritual." When Sunaina started to argue more, yuvraj said, "If you still don't start, then I would have to order you as a yuvraj". After that Sunaina agreed to start this ritual.

Sunaina completed the ritual and gave a gift to Anamika and all the other guests followed. At last, Ranisa and Ranasa's sisters also did the ritual keeping their mouth shut followed by Saudamini. When Saudamini was performing the ritual, one of the guests from the crowd said teasingly, "Choti Bahuranisa! Don't you get jealous of badi bahuranisa? Till now you were the only one who was capable of giving a heir but she is also capable of that".

Saudamini was embarrassed by their words and don't know what to say, so she silently did the ritual and went to her place. Finally the baby shower came to an end and the ladies asked yuvraj teasingly, "Yuvraj! Did you forget that you should give your wife a gift after the baby shower? Last time for choti bahuranisa, you gave a necklace. What is the gift for badi bahuranisa this time?" Everyone was curious to see the gift especially Saudamini who was eager to see whose gift is more valuable.

Yuvraj said, "I have the gift for badi bahuranisa in her chamber. Only she can see and use that. Nobody can use that without her permission. It is exclusively for her". "Why is the gift so secretive yuvraj? ", this time one of Ranasa's sisters asked. "That's because the gift is not just for baby shower but also our Anniversary, our Anniversary".

When he said that, Anamika looked at him surprised only to see that he is already looking at her. She remembered her Anniversary gift, the swing in the garden, where he and Saudamini enjoyed their time.

Later Both Anamika and Yuvraj went towards her chamber as he wanted to give her the gift personally.

To be continued...

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This is not the whole chapter which I had in mind, but it had reached thousand words already so that's why I splitted it.

Do vote and comment, if you like the chapter.

Stay safe and stay healthy. Take care of your parents health and yours as well.

Thanks,

SM.