The Mughal Princess (Completed)

28.

VOTE TARGET - 350

Maheen opened her eyes and stretched her arms, she felt like she was on top of a white cloud. She opened eyes and blinked the last of sleep from her eyes.

She put her foot down, her foot touching the cold marble making her shiver. The cold floor reminded her of last night, and the biting cold and hard sofa and lack of any blanket.

Sofa ?

She looked around and found herself sitting on the bed, how had she landed in bed.

Maheen let out a groan and face palmed herself. Had she crawled in at night in her sleep.

She looked to the left, the bed was empty and unmade, Aditya must have seen her sleep on the same bed, he would have mocked her.

She left out a frustrated squeal.

"Is this some sort of voice exercise you do in the morning ?"

The voice made Maheen shut up and look in the direction.

Aditya was by the bed a few feet away wearing just his training pants and his sword in his hand.

"Is there an issue ?" Maheen asked looking at him with narrowed eyes. "Does wearing proper clothes give you blisters ?"

"Close your eyes if you have a problem, like you did yesterday, you slept on the sofa right ?" He said giving her a mocking look.

"Anyway. Go get ready. We all go and pray every morning as a family at the temple an hour after sunrise. The guards outside will escort you to the temple and it would be better if you go around the palace today and learn common routes." He said and Maheen ignored him though she did agree that she must know her way around.

Aditya shook his head at her childish behaviour and walked out of the room with Agni his sword for early morning practice.

It was still an hour before sunrise, he was surprised to see Maheen up so early, but he was glad he could see her face as it contoured distastefully as she found herself on bed.

Maheen watched Aditya walk out of the room. As the doors closed she burried her face in the pillow and screamed.

Aditya's nonchalant attitude was driving her crazy. The way he had had mocked her with his words made her want to dig her own grave and burry herself in shame.

Maheen pushed herself off the bed and took steps towards the balcony and stepped out. The wind blowing was chilly, the sun was yet to rise. She watched the water in the lake looking dark and deadly. The entire pathway lit by torch lights.

The sound of birds chirping reached her ears, at least the birds too were awake at this hour and not just her and her life's bane Aditya.

Maheen watched as the frame of familiar muscles walked through the torch lit pathway.
She watched Aditya walk along with Mangal, his sword in his hand, he was animatedly speaking to Mangal who laughed making Aditya laugh as well.

Maheen couldn't help but stare, she had never seen him laugh, she didn't know he was capable of laughing. She couldn't help but look at Aditya and think about Dev, the way their eyes could crinkle as they laughed and the dimples which would grace both their cheeks.

Maheen pulled herself back from the path she didn't want to trade down into. She took steps back into her bedroom and walked into the bathroom. It wouldn't be bad to start the day early.

•••

It was probably one of the few times in Maheen's life when she had been given the liberty to dress by herself without people interesting and interrupting her and she had decided to take complete advantage of the silence.