Chapter 7: Palace Punishments

On Amit’s third day, he was punished by the Rajmata and made to sit on his haunches outside the main darwaza, head bowed, as the guards looked on. When I heard, I was frantic, but dared not leave the house, afraid I’d bring more trouble.

The evening dragged by in agony. I pressed my forehead to the cool wall, praying to every god I knew, promising to light a hundred diyas if only he came back safe. I paced the narrow corridor, biting my lip till it bled, listening for every sound outside. That night, Amit limped home. Tears I’d been holding back finally fell. Amit hurried to wipe them away.

He winced as he sat, but still smiled, holding out the barfi box as if nothing had happened. "Ishaan, don’t cry. Dekh, main theek hoon! Sharma Sweets barfi bhi laya hoon."

He comforted me, though he was the one hurt.

"Why did Rajmata punish you?"

I searched his face, seeing bruises beneath his calm. In my memory, Rajmata wasn’t hot-tempered. She preferred to make people vanish quietly.

Amit fell silent. He hugged me tightly, then said, "Ishaan, I won’t let you down. Kabhi nahi."

The next day, I learned why. Priya had asked Maharaja Kabir to grant her marriage to Amit, but Amit refused.

The palace buzzed—maids whispering, stewards pretending not to hear. "I am engaged and deeply in love. I respect the Princess, but I dare not reach so high. Please, Your Majesty, let me serve outside the capital for life, to appease her anger."

A huge scandal. Everyone knew Priya was almost the Rajmata’s favourite. The furious Rajmata wanted to have Amit arrested, but Priya stopped her. One wanted to punish, one to save. In the end, Kabir decided to demote the wife to concubine—Priya as main wife, me as concubine.

Priya liked Amit, so even though royal sons-in-law weren’t allowed concubines, she compromised.

On the surface, all seemed calm, but Amit was furious. He resigned after just three days. His trembling voice faced the Maharaja. "I do not agree to Ishaan being a concubine! I am willing to resign and go home. Please, Your Majesty, approve!"

I don’t know which words moved the cold Maharaja, but after a long silence, he finally said, "Your wife’s name is Ishaan?"

Amit’s voice was clear and steady. "Haan."

Kabir was silent, then said, "I do not wish to break up a fated couple. Since you are unwilling, I will not force you. The matter ends here."

So, a grave matter ended gently.

When Amit told me, he sighed. "If His Majesty really forced me to marry the Princess and I didn’t resign, I would shed blood in the court. In any case, I cannot betray you. Luckily, he was wise—he spared me and kept you safe. I must repay him someday."

But when I heard Kabir ask for my name, my heart clenched. Hearing Amit talk about blood in court, I couldn’t care about anything else.

I gripped the end of his kurta, needing to feel he was real. "You still want to shed blood in court? If you do, I’ll go with you, and even in the next life I’ll scold you!"

Amit took my hand and smiled at my anger.

"Ishaan, don’t be angry. It’s my fault. But sarkari life is risky. Maybe I’ll leave before you. I don’t believe in lifelong chastity—don’t die for me. If you meet someone you like, marry again. Otherwise, life is too long. I’d hate for you to be lonely forever."

Under the tube light, Amit’s eyes were sincere and bright. I choked back a sob. "Fool, where else could I find another fool like you?"

I wiped my nose, half-laughing, half-crying, as the faint sound of traffic outside mingled with my heartbeat.