"You will not come near the baby ever". These words felt like someone snatched the thing for which you had been doing penance for years. This is how Ranisa is feeling right now as Ranasa declared his decision.

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It has been two days since yuvraj and Saudamini had their confrontation. Yuvraj still continued his routine to check upon Anamika and Saudamini's baby everyday. But the change is he doesn't talk with Saudamini anything other than formal words and the baby.

Saudamini was dwelling in her own thoughts. "Was this how Anamika felt all these years without yuvraj? At least I'm able to see him everyday unlike her. How did she survive all these years? Ranasa wouldn't meddle in these matters, Ranisa never liked her and there is noone else who was there for her in these years. Still she handled everything alone. Then why am I not able to handle his ignorance for just two days? Is She really better than me at everything? ", Saudamini was asking questions to herself. "I will even beg him to forgive me for my past acts if necessary. I cannot live with his hatred for me. Whenever he looks in my eyes, it's like he is regretting his mistake, which is me. I always knew that I'm not his love but just his wife and responsibility which he cannot avoid. I thought I will be able to make my own place in his heart, if not able to replace Anamika. But then again, she was always in his mind even when he comes to my chamber. So I thought it would be best if he stays away from her and spends most of his time with me. Though I was successful in keeping them apart, I was not successful in making a place in his heart. Why should it be me? Why did my mother told me that yuvraj will be my husband? Yuvraj and I had spent some time together in our childhood. Atleast once a year, we will meet and play together till he had to go for his training. Even then I was not able to capture his heart which Anamika did in a single meet. I would blame the fate for playing a cruel role in my life", Saudamini looked at herself in the mirror and watching herself in the mirror made her so furious that she broke the mirror. Slowly she is going into self loathing to stay away from the reality.

In these two days, some other things also happened. Ranisa was trying to meet Anamika to ask for her forgiveness and mend her son's relationship with her. Though she knows that she doesn't deserve the forgiveness, she can't see her son's misery especially when she is the sole reason behind it. But fate has something else in store for her. Her own son stopped her efforts to meet Anamika as he didn't want to stress Anamika in this later stage of pregnancy.

He didn't stop at that. He wanted to finish this matter once and for all. Since Ranasa also quickly recovering from the injury, he didn't want to wait anymore to take this matter to him. So he immediately went to Ranasa's chamber along with Ranisa as Ranasa cannot come to the internal assembly hall. Also Anamika and Saudamini were also not informed about this.

When both of them entered the chamber, a dasi was feeding vegetable soup to Ranasa as per the instructions from Vaidh ji. Ranasa noticed them both and asked them to sit near him. Both of them took their seats near the bed and waited for Ranasa to finish the soup.

When the dasi finished feeding Ranasa, she went out of the chamber after greeting all of them. Once she went out, an eerie silence filled the room as yuvraj didn't know how to start the matter and Ranisa was afraid about the consequences. Ranasa noticed them both and asked, "What is the matter? Is there anything serious? Yuvraj! Did you get the culprit behind the attack inside the palace? I know you would have tightened the security of the palace. Also I heard that you have given the order for women to join army. I know this must be my badi bahuranisa's idea. Even though this is not our custom to include women in war, it is good to make a change."

When he completed, Ranasa looked at them both who were still silent. Then asked, "Why are you not saying anything? ". Yuvraj answered, "Babasa! You were talking continuously without giving us a space. Then how can I answer you? Anyways, to answer your question, yes I have traced back to the secret place where the attack was planned and caught a person but he is not the master mind. We will catch him soon." Though yuvraj had a guess about the person, he cannot catch without any evidence as it may create a mistrust among the people of the kingdom. They might take him as a dictator king instead. So he is waiting for their next step which might be on the day of Anamika's delivery or the next day as their main aim is to kill the heir.

Yuvraj continued, "And yes babasa, it's Anamika who suggested about having a women army. And the main reason why we are here today is because Ranisa confessed something to me, a few months ago, which I want you to know. I think it would be better if she herself says that. " He looked at Ranisa to continue.

Ranisa looked at Ranasa once and then looked down. She confessed whatever she did to Anamika and pleaded Ranasa to forgive her. Ranasa looked at her shocked as he didn't expect his wife to go to such an extent in her hatred. He knew that she wanted Saudamini as her daughter-in-law not only because she is her best friend's daughter but also because she will be her puppet.

More than Shock and anger, Ranasa is guilty of not protecting Anamika as per his promise to her father. He didn't know how he will meet her hereafter knowing her sufferings of all these years. He looked at her and said, "I don't want to comment anything on this. But that doesn't mean I will leave you as such. You deserve a punishment for your sin. The punishment would be that 'You will not come near the baby ever'. I don't want even your shadow near him. Now you are confessing your crimes because you are getting the heir from Anamika. So the punishment will also include the heir."

Ranisa couldn't do anything but accept his punishment. Then Ranasa looked at yuvraj and said, "Don't think that it's not your fault yuvraj. They have done all this right in front of you. But you were not able to find it out. What does that say about your capability? Remember this yuvraj, just winning wars and people's hearts doesn't make you a successful ruler. In our history, women were able to make and break kingdoms. If you are not attentive enough then you may loose everything. I didn't have such issue because I had no other queens, sons or brothers who would compete for the position but you having two wives should have been more attentive. I won't give you any punishment as its not my place to give you any punishment. I know Anamika will take the decisions regarding her life. She will decide anything regarding her and the baby. So wait for your turn yuvraj. Now leave me alone".

Ranasa didn't want to have separate chamber from Ranisa as it may create gossips and rumours among the servants and people. So he resorted to being formal with her. Yuvraj left to his chamber and Ranisa went outside the bedroom and waited in the chamber hall.

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Precap : Pratap and Anamika conversation. And baby on the way?

Do vote and comment if you like the chapter.

Probably I will get vaccinated this week. Let's hope. Stay safe and stay healthy.

Thanks,

SM.