Mrityunjay nodded and made her sit down on the couch.
I understand that what that man did to Devika is wrong, and as a woman, you feel bad for her suffering. Don’t worry, Katha; once you become Queen tomorrow, I will give you authority over women’s rights. For now, don’t act yet. Wait until the coronation to amend any law in Vajrajanapur’s constitution.
“I can amend any law regarding women’s rights?”
“Yes, you can. But first, we will discuss its consequences and the possible punishments for the people if and when they break the rules.”
She smiled at Mrityunjay, who returned it while side-hugging her. He gave her the right to make laws for women’s rights, which was a major step toward helping women so that they did not suffer at the hands of men in society.
Suddenly Katha remembered and gave him the letter, confusing him. She cleared his doubt,
“Humne ye sandesh, sandeshwahak ko diya tha parantu unhone mana kar diya yeh keh kar ki aap jab tak padhkar anumati nahin dete, humara likha sandesh kahin nhi jaa sakta.”
“I gave this letter to the messenger who declined, saying that until you permit, he cannot take the letter anywhere.”
Mrityunjay nodded and read the letter, later giving the messenger permission to take it to Kundangarh.
He then looked at Katha and said,
“Jo aaj aapse sandeshwahak ne kaha, wo kewal tab tak laagu hai jab tak aapka Rajyabhishek nhi ho jaata. Abhi aapke paas mohar nhi hai, parantu Rajyabhishek ke pashchaat aapko mohar de di jayegi. Hum vichaar kar rhe the ki aapki mohar par humari mohar jitna adhikaar laagu kar dein, isse aap jo chahe wo kanoon evam neeti amal mein laa sakti hain. Aapka kya vichaar hai?”
“What the messenger told you today is only valid until your coronation. Right now, you don’t have the royal seal, but after the coronation, you will be given one. I was thinking of giving your seal the same authority as mine, so that whatever you decide can be implemented as law and policy. What do you think?”
Katha thought deeply and, after a while, smiled and said,
“Humein aapke vichaar se koi aapatti nhi Hukum, abhi aap humpar vishwaas karte hain, hum aise nhi jo aapke ya kisike bhi viruddh jayein kewal apni satta chalane ke liye, parantu har rani aisi nhi hoti. Ho sakta hai ki hamare pashchaat jo rani aaye, yani humare putra ki patni, wo satta cheenna chahe, ya aur bhi kuch anuchit, iss hi liye aap abhi Rani Mohar ko apni mohar jitna adhikaar na dein Hukum.”
“I don’t have any problem with your thoughts, Hukum, but right now you trust me, I am not the kind of person who would go against you only for the sake of power, but not every queen is like that. Maybe the queen who comes after me, like our son’s wife, would want to take away the power, or something worse. That is why I think you shouldn’t give equal authority to Queen Stamp for now.”
Mrityunjay sat deep in thought, listening to her. He understood her concern that it would become problematic in the future if the queen were not right. However, he still wanted to do something about making sure that Katha got enough authority to rule like a king while Mrityunjay was leaving for wars or expeditions.
“Hum aapki chinta ko samajhte hain Katha, parantu, kuch hi maas mein hum Ashwamedha Yagya karenge, tab hum apni sena ke saath sampoorn Hind mein jayenge aur uss samay hamein hamare peeche koi chahiye hoga jo rajya ko raja ki tarah sambhale. Iss hi karan varsh hum aapki satta humare jitni karna chahte hain taaki aap bina kisi aapatti ke rajya sambhaal sakein.”
“I understand our concern, Katha, but in some months I will be organising Ashwamedha Yagya, then I will go around Hind with my army, and while I am away, I will need someone to rule the kingdom like a king. This is the reason I want to make your authority equal to mine so that you can rule without any problems.”
Katha sighed and said,
“Yadi aap humein apke barabar ki satta dena hi chahte hain to yahi sahi. Humara sujhaav hai ki aap kanoon bana dein ki jab raja yuddh par ho tab kuch vishyon par rani bina anumati ya apatti nirnay le sakti hai, doosre nirnay raja lautne par swayam le sakte hain.”
“If that is what you want, then so be it. I suggest you introduce a law stating that when any king is at war, the queen can take certain decisions without any permission or problem; the other decisions can be taken on the king’s return.”
Mrityunjay nodded and smiled at the suggestion. He then informed,
“Starting from tomorrow morning, most probably all the royal families of neighbouring kingdoms and friends will start coming to Vajrajanapur for your coronation.”
Katha nodded, slowly remembering how her sister-in-laws had reacted seeing her for the first time, many of them did not like her, although she was unaware of their reason, but it didn’t matter to her.
Suddenly, Mrityunjay leaned forward to plant a kiss on her cheek, causing her to come out of her thoughts.
Katha saw him looking at her and smiling cheekily. She raised my eyebrows to ask him ‘What?’ and he leaned in closer to kiss her cheek again.
A smile formed on her lips, and her eyes shut unknowingly. His lips lingered on her cheeks for a moment longer, and then he parted away.
Katha decided to ask him, “What was that for Hukum?”
“I don’t know, I just wanted to do that.”
She chuckled a little, listening to his reply, but furrowed her eyebrows seeing him keeping his head low. She asked him,
“What’s wrong, Hukum?” he looked at her, and gave a smile that she knew was fake.
He sighed, his eyes searching hers for reassurance.
“Katha, there’s something I want to… ask you.”
She nodded, encouraging him to continue. He took a deep breath, “I… I just wanted to ask whether you’re… You know… comfortable with my touch.”
She looked at him and couldn’t believe that he was stuttering like that.
“No Hukum… I am not uncomfortable with your touch.”
A faint smile tugged at the corners of his lips. “I’m glad to hear that, Katha. But I also remember the promise I gave you, that I would never touch you until and unless you desire. I haven’t been able to keep that promise up, I have kissed you and gone a step ahead too.”
“Hukum, humne aapse vachan maanga tha ki aap humare saath hambistar nhi honge jab tak hum na chahein, humne aapko kabhi chhoone ko toh mana kara hi nhi. Saath mein saare daayre todkar sone mein aur kewal uss tarah choone mein antar hota hai, Hukum.”
“Hukum, I asked you to promise me that you will not make love with me unless I want you to, but I never stopped you from touching me. Sleeping together, breaking all barriers, and touching only like that are two different things, Hukum.”
“Well, I have meetings in the evening. So, let’s just go spend some time in the garden area, which you seem to like so much.”
Katha nodded at him, they stood in the garden area. She noticed that more flowers had bloomed compared to other days.
The couple sat together while Katha took her dupatta from her head. She looked at Mrityunjay, who lay down on the mattress with his head on his palm, his elbow resting on the pillow, facing her side.
She lay down beside him, looking into his eyes, which were already looking into hers. He put his other hand to caress her cheek, and she leaned into his hand as if it were giving her peace, making her close her eyes with the effect.
He moved his hand from her cheek to her waist, under the dupatta, and a shiver ran down her spine, feeling his hand on her bare skin. Her breath hitched when she felt him pressing his hand on her belly and leaning his head down to plant a kiss under her ear.
To tease him, Katha turned around, her back facing him. As if he understood her trick, he teased her too, tracing his fingers on her back. He planted a kiss, and she sighed heavily
