12. BANDHAN

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Mrityunjay’s Point of View

I said those words purposely to lighten Katha’s mood. I saw her reaction, which came out as a shock and then turned into a blush, and eventually, she moved her gaze to her hands. I smiled a little at her reaction. I continued,

“By the way, what do you want? Sons or daughters?” Hearing me, Katha replied,

“Both, I want both, a son and a daughter.

She completed her sentence, and I teasingly said,

“That’s it? A SON AND A DAUGHTER?”

She furrowed her eyebrows and said,

“Yes, Hukum, that’s what I told you, A SON AND A DAUGHTER.” 

I continued to clear her confusion, “Are you sure you only want two kids? Not anymore?”,

“I-I don’t know, how many do you want, Hukum?”

Katha asked, eagerness laced her voice.

“I don’t know, I guess as many as possible, but for now, 12-13 kids are okay for me. What say?”,

I said to tease her, lying back on the couch, still facing her.

Katha’s expression was worth it as, without any wait, she said,

“12-13 kids are okay, that too for now? Are you sure you want that many kids? I mean, think about me, do you want to kill me or something? How will I give birth to so many kids? And-“,

She kept blabbering, and I wanted to laugh hard but to shut her up and calm her down a bit, I leaned in and captured her rose-petal lips with mine, I held her chin and nibbled on her lower lip, sucking harsh. I could feel her relax with the effect and hold onto my kurta with both hands. She fisted on it. I moved my other hand to hold her braid and pulled it lightly, her mouth opened with the effect, and I inserted my tongue to taste her more nicely. After a good amount of time, we felt out of breath. We both parted, and I joined our heads together. Katha left my kurta, slowly encircled her hands around my neck, and kept her head on my shoulder.

This feeling was something else, she was hugging me. As much as I wanted to, I couldn’t hug her as I was doubtful whether she would like it or not. Taking the chance, I encircled my hands around her waist, pulling her closer. I felt her soft skin and couldn’t help but hug her more tightly. Katha tightened her hold, too, and I inhaled her intoxicating jasmine fragrance, keeping my nose on the crook of her neck, and rubbed my nose there. She sighed heavily with the effect.

Sitting straight on the couch, I looked into her eyes, and for the first time, I wanted to smile very hard. A question came into my mind.

Taking a deep breath, I asked her, “Did I hurt you? I mean, after telling you about my past, and all?”,

Her smile faltered, but she told me,

“Hukum, you didn’t hurt me by telling me about your past. I am glad that you were truthful to me and decided to confess instead of hiding it from me. But, let me be truthful now, if I ever find you involved with any other woman… in any way, I will not think twice before leaving you, and I will, without any explanation, leave for Kundangarh and never come back.”

I could sense determination in her tone, not only that, but she was confident too, a trait of her character that has made me fancy her ever since I talked to her for the first time.

I smiled, held her hands in mine, and said,

“I promise you, Katha, no matter what happens, I will never get involved with any other woman except for you.”

A satisfactory smile formed on her lips. She smiled and nodded, and that’s when I thought of asking her,

“Are you hungry? Because I think it is lunchtime.” She nodded again, and I clapped twice to call an attendee, and asked her to bring our lunch to the chamber itself.

After some time, a few attendees came with food and plates and kept them on the table.

Katha stopped me when I was about to serve the food on the plate. I looked at her, confused, but she just smiled and started serving the food.

“If you don’t mind, Katha, serve the food for both of us on one plate only.” After serving, she sat back.

I looked at her to know why she suddenly stopped, and that’s when I realized that she was waiting for me to start first. I tore a bite of the chapati and filled it with some curry, then offered it to her. She looked at me confused, and I said,

“Eat this bite, Katha, and don’t say no as it is already near your mouth.” She smiled and took the bite. To my surprise, she did the same with me.

After the silent lunch, I moved my gaze to Katha, who was standing near the bed, looking at the floor.

I wondered why she was so silent today. 

Maybe she is always like this…

But maybe she got uncomfortable hearing about my past.

As she seemed lost in thought, I walked to her and in a light voice called her, “Katha”,

She flinched and said, “Ji Hukum”,

I smiled at her and continued, “What thoughts are you lost in?”

“Nothing, Hukum. Just thinking about Maa-sa, how much she endured all the time.”, she said.

There was concern in her voice, “Indeed, Maa-sa endured a lot. But you have no idea how happy she was to have you as her daughter-in-law.”,

I told her and she smiled. I continued, “By the way, why do you call me Hukum? Why not, Maharaj, like everybody else?”

She smiled and asked me, “If you don’t mind, please tell me why people call you ‘Maharaj’?”

I furrowed my eyebrows and replied, “Well, because… I am their King, and they are supposed to call me that.”

I replied to her, and she smiled a bit, giving me an unexpected reason.

“Dekhiye Hukum, aapko sab ‘Maharaj’ isliye bulate hain kyunki aap unke Raja hain, aapko Maa-sa ‘Jai’ isliye bulati hain kyunki aap unke putra hain, Devarjisa aapko ‘Bhai-sa’ bulate hain kyunki aap unke bade bhai hain. Inn sabse aapka ek alag rishta hai jo ki aapka kisi aur se nahi hai. Waise hi aapka humse jo rishta hai woh kisi aur se nhi hai, toh hum aapko uss naam se kyun bulayein jisse doosre log bulate hain, isliye hum aapko Hukum bulate hain.”

“Hukum, everyone addresses you as ‘Maharaj’ because you are their king, Maa-sa calls you ‘Jai’ because you are her son, Devarjisa addresses you as ‘Bhai-sa’ because you are his elder brother. You have a unique relationship with each of them that you don’t share with anyone else. Similarly, the connection I have with you is unlike any other, so why should I call you by the same name that others use? That’s why I address you as ‘Hukum’.”

I was left speechless. It was beyond my imagination, I couldn’t help but smile at her.

“Well, if that is the case, why not call me ‘Mrityunjay’? Won’t it be easier?”

Her eyes widened at this, “I cannot take your name, Hukum, you’re my husband, and no wife takes her husband’s name.”,

Her reply came instantly,

“But I want you to call me by my name, I want to hear you calling me ‘Mrityunjay’. Won’t you fulfill your husband’s wish?”

She sighed and replied, “Fine, I will take your name, but only when I feel the dire need to do so. Okay?”

I simply nodded while murmuring an ‘okay’.

Suddenly,   the voice of an attendee caught our attention, “Maharaj, the Royal Priest is here. He says he wishes to meet you in his chamber.”

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