The next morning came and KrishnaRaj met with Abhimanyu and Anamika in the garden and bid bye to his friend. Pratap said to Anamika, "Ranisa! I want to talk about something important with you".

When Anamika nodded, he signalled the head maid to take away Abhimanyu and signalled all the guards to leave for their privacy. Anamika was just looking at this and waited for what he has to say. She doesn't need to avoid him as she had already made her decisions clear to him.

"Anamika! I know that the matter is dead and does not hold any more significance for you but I still want to say this. I know that whatever I did in those ten years cannot be reverted back. But I want to do everything in my power to bring back your happiness which was lost. Whether you accept or not, I will definitely seek forgiveness for my sins through my actions. I know that I cannot get your love back, atleast not in this lifetime. But I want to make this life where we are together, the least bitter. That's all I want to say", Pratap finished what he wanted to say.

Anamika looked at him and said with a smile, "Ok Ranasa. I will keep aside the fact that I'm your first wife and will talk to you normally as a friend. I am no one to stop you from your plans, so I will not talk about that. You can do whatever you seem appropriate. Now I just want to ask a few questions to you as a woman."

"In our culture, it is allowed for a man to take many wives as and when he wants. And they expect all the women to stay without any fights. Do you really think it is possible? Even if you have 7 wives and spend one night every week with each of them, they still tend to get jealous. That is human nature. But men will not understand this. Do you know why? Let me answer this as well. The reason is because, men never had to share. If one of the neglected wife finds love from another man, she will be immediately labelled as disloyal and characterless. But men do it legally and justify it with many reasons. Just imagine your wife naked in front of another man, Ranasa. How do-", before Anamika could finish, Pratap shouted, "Anamika! I will never let that happen. You are mine and no one would dare to even think of you in that manner."

Agitated Anamika replied, "Ranasa, You dare someone to think of me as such. But if we reverse the roles, you did the deed with another woman, while your first wife would just rot in hell thinking would he have loved the new woman same as her? or even more? "

"In my case, I got a hold on my heart and started thinking from brain, otherwise I would have gone crazy in the name of love. Many women do things in jealousy which will make them a witch in front of others. I should thank god that I stopped myself at the right time, rather than pursuing some tainted relationship. May be that's why I got the fruit of my patience in the form of my son. I know that you were in an inevitable circumstances due to heir, that you couldn't say no to the marriage. But just think yuvraj, if this new law had been there in place, would you have relieved me from the marriage to get married to another woman or would you have opted for adoption? The answer of this question will relieve you some stress that you had while thinking through all this." Pratap knew that each and every word of hers is true. Just hearing her words is bringing all the emotions like anger and jealousy to him, but she had survived all this. So even if she never turns back to him, he could never blame her.

Anamika continued, "As far as my forgiveness is concerned, I have already mentioned that I forgave you. And I have a reason to forgive you, my son. I made it clear during our previous conversation. But Forgive and Forget are two different things. I will never forget who betray my trust. So don't expect me to be anything but your son's mother. I will see how long you will show your repentance through actions, before being fed up of your bachelor life and relieving me from the marriage and then taking up another wife. Good luck Ranasa".

She got up to leave but turned back and said, "I think you will not forget about this too just like years ago. Because there is no distraction in the picture right now." Pratap knew what the mocks are about. He watched her leaving the garden.

"I would have chosen you Anamika", Pratap whispered. After she went, he just laid his head back on the chair and seated there for sometime before moving from there.

While walking to her chamber, Anamika thought, "I know Ranasa, the first five years of my married life is as true as the next ten years that followed. But I don't think you would ever be able to love me truly. Once a love has been tainted, it cannot be purified. Just like a broken mirror."

The day before the naming ceremony, Anamika had told Pratap that, they will just co-parent their son, without lacking in their responsibilities. And that will be their only relationship.

Now when Pratap reached his chamber, he was even more determined than when he left, to seek his repentance and above all that to prove himself that he is worthy of having her love. But may be god doesn't want him to have a moment of peace.

A guard came and informed him that Badi Ranisa (Pratap's mother) came to meet him. Pratap asked him to let her in as he didn't want to create a scene infront of servants.

"Now what do you want? Is this related to my daughter? ", Pratap asked his mother. "I wanted to see my son. How long will you keep me away from you? I'm already not able to see my grandson closely and not able to hold him myself. Is my punishment not enough, Pratap? Even bahuranisa is ready to forgive me then why not you?", his mother asked with tears in her eyes.

"That's because Anamika doesn't know anything about what you did behind her back. How many times you tried to manipulate me against her. At that time, I didn't give much of a thought about it. But now I can see the real intentions behind your actions. I will come to the palace for only a few days and only the last night of my stay, you will bring your complaints. Now I know why. It's because you didn't want me to think of her during early days of my stay. I was such a foolish person back then and you really enjoyed it. Didn't you?", Pratap finished. His mother couldn't hold his gaze anymore, so she left the chamber immediately.

Pratap was checking map of the next kingdom they are going for war, starting tomorrow. That's when his mother came to his chamber and asked him whether she can talk with him. He asked her to proceed while still looking at the map and thinking about the war tactics. "Pratap, I know that you are stressed about war but there are some things you should know about your family as well. Saudamini had her third child, two months back and both are healthy now. But when she was pregnant, she fell ill and unconscious. On checking with Daima, it was found that her food was poisoned", Pratap looked up from the map to his mother with a frown. The palace security has been compromised which he has to address with his father. He nodded at her to continue and looked at the map once again immersed in it. She took a deep breath and continued, "We suspect that it may be badi bahuranisa who might have done this. Since she is not able to have a child, she could have done this out of jealousy."

As soon as she completed this, without even looking up at her, Pratap said cooly, "Stop talking nonsense, Maasa. Anamika would never do that. It is someone else. It would be better if Anamika herself investigate this matter. I will talk with her". His mother panicked at this, since the said matter never happened in the first place. So she told him, "Pratap, you don't worry, I will tell this to Anamika myself. I didn't want Ranasa to worry more, that's why I didn't take this matter to him or anyone else. You be relax and prepare for the war. I will take care of this."

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Hi All,

I know it's a surprise update. But I was too jobless today so wrote the chapter.

Recently I have been reading some rebirth stories. Then I got an idea that what if Anamika had a second chance to change her fate and sufferings? Instead of just staying away and let the enemies do want they wish, she could put her brains to use, inside the palace as well and make sure she avoids her sufferings.

So in that case, when would you want Anamika to be reborn?

1. Before second marriage and before miscarriage.

2. Before second marriage but after miscarriage.

3. After second marriage.

If you like the chapter, do vote and comment.

Thanks,

SM.