Chapter 3: Doubts and Drama

I was about to stop her, but the comment pop-up continued—

[Doesn’t Meera always use this trick?]

[Only the supporting male would fall for it. Meera would never really die; it’s just a way to manipulate the Raja.]

My hand, halfway stretched out, froze mid-air. My heart thudded with both fear and irritation—was this real, or just another of Meera’s nautanki? I hesitated, glancing at the faces of the courtiers peeking in. Would she really do it, or was it all drama? Meera rushed toward the pillar, her pink pallu fluttering behind her like a wounded bird. But as I watched, I noticed her feet pause ever so slightly. Her head seemed to strike the pillar hard, but when she turned, there was only a tiny red mark on her fair forehead, barely bigger than a bindi. She spun around, let out a melodramatic sigh, and with a glare full of accusation, collapsed to the ground. “Raja ji, you are so cruel.” Her voice trailed off as she closed her eyes, still as a lifeless puppet.

The silence was broken only by the distant sound of the old wall clock striking the hour. Looking at the ‘corpse’ of the noble consort, I suddenly felt an unfamiliar chill. Her face, once so familiar, now seemed strange. Something in me cracked. Before I could act, the pop-ups began again—

[Oh, the supporting male must be heartbroken. I bet a rupee the clueless Raja will definitely rush over, hold her, cry bitterly, and apologise profusely.]

[Same here.]

[+1.]

A few months ago, I would have thrown caution to the wind and rushed to cradle her, wiping her tears and cursing myself for her pain. But today, my patience had worn thin, eroded by these constant, mocking voices. I slammed my palm on the table, making the inkpot rattle.

“Someone come! The noble consort is disturbing my rest. Carry her back at once.”

A gasp rippled through the room. The ‘corpse’ on the floor twitched ever so slightly. I sneered, my lips curling in a way that would have made my mother scold me for being so heartless. I glanced at the pop-ups with a challenge burning in my eyes. Under my breath, I muttered, “Aur kya kehna hai ab?” Let’s see what you say now.