"No." He pursed his lips, still frowning. "No, I'm not letting you go. But I want to know who did it."
"Get some sleep," she said, soothing. "You had what you wanted, you need rest."
"No. I want you again." He assaulted her with rage and passion – his other side after the tender lover. But he felt wounded by her betrayal.
"Ouch! You're hurting me!" she protested.
"Tell me who did it," he ordered squeezing and biting instead of caressing and kissing.
"Let me go!" She squirmed, trying to get rid of him.
"Tell me!"
Bindya screamed with pain and he calmed down a little.
She started crying.
"Who was he?" he whispered threateningly in her ear.
"Jeevan," she sobbed.
He pulled back as if she had slapped him.
"Of course, who else," he muttered. The runaways had been alone for almost a month, albeit in an uncomfortable jungle. But they loved each other so much, they had probably done it anyway, without bothering to get married first.
His rival had beaten him to her body as well as her mind. Son of a bitch.
"Stop crying," he snorted at her. "And thank the Gods I don't divorce you right now!"
He had to do something about Jeevan, though. He got out of the bed and put on a caftan, grabbing his scimitar on the way out.
"Kunal, don't!" she screamed, running after him and desperately hugging him.
"Wait here." He easily got rid of her and pushed her away. "I'm going to kill your beloved Jeevan, I swear!"
He locked her in the room and stormed through the sleeping palace towards Kanya's apartments. The puzzled guards let him in and he found his former betrothed in bed with his rival, both of them well awake and scantly clothed.
"Kunal!" Kanya protested, covering herself with the bed-sheet. But he saw only Jeevan.
"She wasn't yours, she wasn't your wife, you shouldn't have touched her," he growled.
"She was mine, actually, because she loved me," Jeevan replied. "More mine than yours even if you married her."
"You son of a bitch..."
The scimitar swung again.
"Kunal!" Kanya protested. "He was mine!"
Kunal had enough even of her. The scimitar struck again and he stared at the bloodied bed with hatred before storming back to his bedroom.
Bindya screamed at the sight of the bloodied scimitar, but he threw it away, marching on her. She tried to escape, but couldn't.
She screamed her hatred and sorrow, but he didn't listen. He gave vent to his passion then finally relaxed, ignoring her sobs.
The Prince Heir
A nasty awakening in that luxurious palace. Renuka looked around with a frown. The garden pavilion where she met with Manish was a thousand times better than the royal palace!
With the sunshine, Anjaan came in as well.
"Good morning!" he greeted with a bright smile that didn't impress her. The young man sat next to her and took her hands. "Are you not happy yet, beloved?" he chided.
Renuka stared obstinately the other way.
"I will never be happy with you, don't you understand?" she snapped. "You're not Manish."
"What has that Manish that I don't have?" he protested. "He's a commoner, and you're a noblewoman. I'm the prince heir of this kingdom, only I can give you the life you deserve. Aren't you happy here, surrounded by beauty? You prefer that poor man's room in your father's palace?"
"Yes, because I love him, Anjaan, and I don't care if he's rich or poor, I belong to him."
"You don't belong to anyone, beautiful Renuka." He scoffed, trying to embrace her.
She pulled away. "Leave," she ordered. "I hate you."
"You shall love me, you'll see," he replied sarcastically.
He left without turning back.
Renuka hid her face in her hands. Night had been so sweet! Manish had visited her dreams and she had hoped to be with him again. The awakening, unfortunately, had brought back reality: she was prisoner of Anjaan, the prince who had abducted her from her own palace, tearing her apart from her lover, leaving her beloved unconscious, maybe dead...
Renuka wondered once more how Manish was doing, and if he was looking for her. As a commoner he probably didn't have easy access to the royal palace, unless he was hired as a servant. He was a gardener at her father's palace, always smiling and gentle with flowers as well as people.
Renuka preferred Manish to the spoiled prince heir, who was arrogant and always surrounded by beautiful women who adored him. She knew Anjaan wanted her more because she had refused him than any other reason. And she preferred Manish also because she had chosen him, instead of being chosen as trophy wife like Anjaan had been trying to do for years now. Foreign princesses had refused to spend their lives with him, hence he had turned to the kingdom's nobility, knowing they couldn't really oppose him.
Except she was determined to resist. She was her father's only heir, she might as well marry below her status so her lands would not go to the crown or another noble house.
The royal palace might be as beautiful as her father's, but she was confined to her rooms and the small private garden in common with Anjaan. She knew he was beyond the little green patch and could visit her anytime he wished, while all the outside doors were locked and guarded.
Until now she had managed to keep him at bay, but how long could she resist? The prince was handsome in his own right and could be very charming if he wanted to. He knew how to seduce a woman much better than Manish. Renuka knew he hadn't touched her yet only because he was enjoying the skirmishes with her, but what if he had enough and decided to claim his prize?
She got out of bed and dressed, calling for breakfast, still mulling over her situation. She really hated the fact that Anjaan had interfered with her choice, but he was stronger and there wasn't much she, or Manish, could do at the moment.
Eventually she went to the little garden and allowed the sun to kiss her pale skin for a moment. It felt like being in Manish's arms, but she soon had to break the spell. Noblewomen didn't allow the sun to color their skin like commoners who worked in the open.
She walked through the trees and bushes and flowerbeds until she reached the external wall of the garden – a tall white barrier she looked at every day, hoping to grow wings and be able to pass over it. Or that during the night a part had crumbled, or that somebody might have forgotten a ladder or a rope against it.
"Here again, hoping to escape?" Anjaan's voice startled her.
She swirled around to face him, hiding her emotions behind a mask of haughtiness. "Why do you always sneak up on me?"
"I'm sorry, I didn't want to scare you," he apologized with his sweetest smile. "But I really want you to forget your illusions. You'll never get out of here. And you shall marry me. Then, if you behave like a worthy wife and queen, I'll show you around the kingdom. Otherwise, you'll just be locked up here for the rest of your life."
He took her face in his hands and forced her to look him in the eyes. He had strong, manicured hands heavy with rings.
"Honey, no use to pout, that's the way it is," he warned, steel and sugar mixing in his voice. "It can't be such a sacrifice after all. Hundreds of women would give anything to marry me."
"Why don't you pick one of them?" she asked bluntly, freeing herself and stepping back, furious. Standing too close to him made her head spin and she couldn't concentrate. Damn, he was gorgeous!
"Because I love you, darling," he smiled. "You stole my heart," he whispered before grabbing her again and pulling her against him. He gave her a long, passionate kiss before she could react, and she felt weak. His lips and his tongue explored her mouth, making her heart beat faster. She struggled to keep control, but a part of her moaned with pleasure and was ready to give in to the fire he had lit in her heart.
Breathless, she allowed him to pick her up and take her back inside. His eyes had captured hers and she was subdued by the turmoil of emotions inside her. He had st
irred something with his deep kiss and now she felt helpless and enthralled by his beauty and touch. His lips brushed her forehead and her hair, sending shivers down her spine, leaving her panting once more.
He put her down on the bed and kissed her again, his hands moving over her body like never before. Slowly his lips moved away from her face and she closed her eyes, struggling to breathe while surrendering to his passion.
***
"I thought you belonged to Manish," Anjaan said holding Renuka close to him. The discovery of her virgin status had explained her surrender – nobody had touched her yet – and he wasn't sure he liked it. If he had known for sure, he'd have waited for the wedding night.
"I thought you were supposed to marry a virgin," she replied sharply. "Anyway, you had your wish. But I hate you more than ever."
"You didn't hate me while you were in my arms," he retorted with scorn. He had had her body, but hadn't reached her heart yet. He had seduced her, but not completely. She thought she still hated him, and she hadn't tried his full passion yet.
"Oh, shut up!" She hit his chest with her fist, but didn't hurt him much. And she was still locked up in his embrace, feeling ashamed of enjoying his touch. Silly girl.
"I wonder what Manish will say when he discovers it," he said. "Did he want a virgin bride too? I think so. Maybe he won't want you anymore, so even if you manage to get back to him..."
"Enough!" Renuka closed her eyes and hit him again – useless, but she gave vent to her shame and frustration. Her reaction amused him to no end. Others had resisted, and then had been grateful for his attentions. Only Indira had been this cold with him, even after sex.
"Calm down, beloved," he smiled. "I'm afraid you'll have to marry me now."
"I'd rather die," she said through clenched teeth.
"We'll see," he replied. He let her go and sat up, gathering his clothes. "Will you have lunch with me?" he asked as he dressed.
She ignored him, staring at the carved ceiling, the bed-sheet held tight to her body like a useless shield.
He scoffed and leaned to kiss her. "I'll be waiting for you," he whispered before leaving.
***
That night Renuka slipped into the darkened garden and found her way to the wall. She had had enough of Anjaan. She despised him and hated him for what he had done. And for the pleasure he had given her – and the shame she felt afterward. And for his cruel words about Manish.
Now Renuka only wanted to go back to her lover to make sure Anjaan was totally, utterly wrong. She pulled her sari up her legs and climbed one of the trees, finding a passage over the wall.
She jumped onto the grass on the other side, relieved and elated at her freedom. But she wasn't safe yet, so she ran as fast as she could from the palace walls and towards the open country bathed by the moon.
At dawn she reached a hut at the edge of the jungle. Nobody was inside, so Renuka tried to look through the trees to see if she could find something edible. She had been following the river all night, but didn't have anything to catch fish with and maybe some fruits were more easily obtained from the jungle – although she didn't dare enter it alone.
Footsteps startled her and she swirled around to look at the hut again. A young man stood next to it, wearing poor clothing and an awed expression, bow and quiver in one hand.
"Hello," she smiled relieved to see it was only a hunter and not a royal guard. "What are you looking at? Ever seen a woman?"
He seemed to recover from his surprise and stepped forward.
"Not one so beautiful," he said. "I couldn't believe my eyes."
She giggled. "I bet you lived here all your life," she said.
"Yes. There's a village a few miles down there," he pointed to the river, "but they don't look so gorgeous. My name is Tushar the Hunter."
"I'm Renuka, runaway of the royal palace," she said. "My father also has a palace, but I really didn't like Prince Anjaan's company."
"Prince Anjaan?" He was awed again. Of course he had never been to a town, but he must know about the king and his son.
"I'm not a princess," she assured. "But I am of noble birth," she admitted. "And I'm hungry."
"Oh, sure, come."
He let her in the hut and she waited patiently while he gathered some flat-breads and a couple of fruits.
He was as sweet as Manish and was probably too poor to help her go back home, but he could protect her while she decided her next move. Of course Anjaan would go to her father's first, so maybe if she postponed her comeback when she actually reached home her father would be more keen on protecting her from the prince's wrath. She still had no idea if her father had actually agreed to her wedding, so it was one more reason not to rush back home.
And Tushar's hut felt so much like Manish's place... As hours passed she could feel Tushar's adoration. His desire was like Manish's, clean and pure – both knew she was above them and respected her more for that.
So she felt tenderness for the hunter as much as she had for the gardener, something she couldn't feel with haughty Anjaan. Therefore she didn't ask Tushar to take her to the village and then back to civilization, and he didn't offer. He seemed content to have her there, sleeping under the same roof.
His pallet was nothing like Anjaan's silky bed, but that night she slept peacefully and woke up happier than she had in a long time.
Hours went by, eyes kept meeting, their bodies getting closer and closer. No real words were exchanged, but their souls seemed to be drawn to each other.
The second night in the hut he caressed her cheek and she kissed him. She felt his surprise and his hunger. He pulled back, breathless, his eyes burning with passion.
"It's the first time I fall in love and am with a woman," he said.
"Same here," she said, and for a moment it felt really like her first time. Tushar's lips were sweet and for a few hours Renuka forgot Manish, Anjaan and everything else.
***
Tushar noticed the armed men around his hut and approached it wary of what he would find. The guards didn't stop him as he rounded his house to step in front of the doorless main opening.
Prince Anjaan paced his humble home with a frown. Renuka sat pouting by the fireplace and wasn't looking at the powerful intruder.
"Damn you, Renuka, you shouldn't have done it!" Prince Anjaan snapped, stopping in front of her. "I looked for you everywhere, I was worried..."
"I told you to leave me alone, Anjaan," she replied coldly.
Tushar stepped in, glaring at the guards outside.
"Who is this?" the prince asked, staring at him with contempt.
"The owner of the house, who else?" Renuka sounded sarcastic. "Did you really think I could build myself all this in a few days?"
"Enough sarcasm, Renuka!"
"Enough trying to force me to do what you want, Anjaan!"
Tushar went to her and pulled her close to his heart. She curled up against him, glaring at the prince.
"By all the known gods, Renuka, again?" Prince Anjaan exclaimed, furious. "You are noble! I will never let you go! I will not allow you to go back to Manish nor to waste yourself with him!"
"I'm already wasted," she replied defiantly. "By you!"
"I will marry you! And I will not tolerate you give yourself to another man!"
"Too late."
"Again? You like giving yourself to all the down-and-outs of the kingdom but refuse to marry me? Do you really think he can give you more than Manish? Or are you using him to go back to your greatest love?"
Tushar stiffened, feeling sick. Everything was clear now. Renuka had lied to him.
"Shut up, Anjaan," she snapped. "I don't want you. I don't want to live in your palace, to become queen, to have servants and slaves and subjects or any other material wealth you can bestow on me. I don't need any of that, Anjaan! For the last time, let me go back to Manish."
"No."
Tushar pulled away from her, heartbroken. She had used him. He got to his feet and headed for the ex
it.
"Tushar!" Renuka called. "Where are you going?"
"You lied," he said. "It's not the first time for you."
Prince Anjaan laughed. "You idiot! Did you really think Renuka had known no man before you? She's way too beautiful! She has dozens of suitors, it's impossible for her to resist them all, isn't it, Renuka? I never thought you would choose a gardener or a hunter, though."
"Stop it!" she screamed.
"Don't forget, honey, that even if Manish is your great love, I was the first to have you," he scoffed.
Tushar left, disgusted. Renuka had fallen from her pedestal way too fast. And it hurt like hell, because she had used him but she was also the sweetest and most beautiful woman he had ever seen. And he still loved her. Such sudden and devastating need to be with her no matter what she did or where she came from... He still wanted to spend his life with her.
So he went to look for her. He asked for directions and reached the capital, then the mighty royal palace. He was hired as a servant and managed to see her, first from afar, then from much closer.
She was startled to see him and summoned him to her room. She threw herself at him as soon as they were alone, so he stiffened to resist the urge to hold her.
"Take me away, Tushar," she begged.
"To your father's palace and your beloved gardener?" he asked sourly.
"Don't be cruel," she whispered pulling away.
"Cruel, me? What about you? You lied to me and I was sick for days. I tried to forget you and hate you, but I can't. I love you, so if you want me to take you away, you will have to follow me anywhere I go."
She sighed and looked around at the luxurious room.
"I'd rather be with you than with Anjaan. But try to understand, Tushar. My heart is not free. He... I left him for dead, I need to know how he is and if he still wants me. Please help me to run away from this golden prison."
She looked at him with pleading eyes. He had to avert his, or she'd win him over. He clenched his fists, controlling his wish to run to her and say yes to whatever she wanted. If he took her back to Manish, he'd lose her forever.
Tales of the Southern Kingdoms (One Volume Edition) Page 13
