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Summery: "New master - new rules."

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They make such a fuss for a son coming home. Randheer thinks rather annoyedly. No one had made such a spectacle even when he had returned after two solid decades as Daulatabadh estate was doing right now at the prospect of their elder prince's return.

It is simple bootlicking that's what, rational part of his mind says. These people knew that Rani Sahiba has bargained with the Daulatabadh seal and for the time being all the authority over their lands rested with the kuwar. So they were all eager to put up a show for him. Another part of it was preparations for the upcoming race; nothing else.

Watching from the balcony of his new chambers Randheer convinced himself he isn't waiting for Veer and Amrit. No, he was waiting to see the man who raised him, saved him from certain death all those years ago.

Rani ma had informed him just that morning that his adoptive father Mr. Raizada was due to arrive any moment. Since they had not met in a long after the partition, Randheer couldn't contain his excitement. He is waiting for his father. But in the meantime he couldn't help but witness the fuss in the lawn below.

"As if his coronation is happening," he mutters to himself moodily. "Aisa kya kardiya ussne ke itne bheed jham gaye milne ko. Stupid aristocrats...."

They make the crowd wait a whole hour before finally arriving. Veer has made it a point to remind everyone exactly how much he resembled their father - in looks perhaps, Randheer thought begrudgingly - dark green velvet that he wears catch the light just right, with silk at his throat and Shrigar's insignia pinned to his collar he looks every bit his father in that celebrated painting.

Panchayat representatives gobble up the show he puts forth, their eyes dazzled to all his flaws when he greets them warmly. Veer pauses to help Amrit out and Randheer finds himself inching closer over the railing of his balcony for a better look.

Her sari is ivory, stones that she wears are the same deep green of Veer's outfit. There is a single marigold in full bloom stuck on her loose bun, thoughtlessly tucked yet artful. Randheer swallows the nostalgia her vision evokes as her eyes search for him no more.

Instead she places her hand daintily in her husband's and her eyes smile into his.

Following them is an older woman Randheer does not recognise, dressed to reflect her seniority and rank. She takes over introducing Amrit to most influential of the crowd, muttering quiet directions in her ear from time to time. A senior maid perhaps, by the side of the new princess.

There are two other girls trailing after them, one that looked more a part of the aristocracy than the other. Randheer frowns a little, nobody had informed the family they will be arriving with a bevy of servants.

In the lawn down below Amrit and Veer are dealing with the unexpected fanfare they landed to, to the best of their abilities.

Menka having handled queens before, manages to quell Amrit's nevers from appearing on her face and Veer manages to get them through the thick of the crowd in record time.

"Will you soon be taking up your father's reins Kuwar Sahab?"

Amrit is uncertain whether it is the question or the sight that makes Veer pause. The older man representing Panchayat remains intrigued, but behind him approaching them is Nalini Devi.

Her eyes turn cold the moment she hears those words. There is a frosty touch to her smile.

"All in good time," she replies saucily and turns to them. "Andar aaiye Veer, bohut dher kardiye aane mein."

Amrit moved instinctively, taking Veer's hand in hers. This woman brings with her all the hurtful reminders of his past and Veer's grip on her fingers tightens reassuringly.

Rani sahiba watches him, clutching her hands behind her back to hide their tremor. Despite having her eyes, the man who stands before her is a ghost from her past, one that she could not bury long after all the scars of their relationship had faded away.

It takes decades of will not to cave before him, that face - that figure - that authoritative look. She flinches when he holds out a hand, a claw of a memory tightening around her windpipe.

"Joda pehenni hai toh pehenlijiye Nalini - shaadi toh hongi, aaj hi hongi. Ab aap ko sajne sawarne ka hum aadesh nahi de sakte. Aap ki shaadi hai, aap ki mann ki ho. Haan, in kapdon mein baithne ka irada yahaan se bhaag ne ki hai toh hum bata dein, yahaan se sirf ek hi rasta jaata hai - woh Shrighar taq jaata hai. Aur woh rasta aap doli mein baith kar jaayengi."

"Aap kuch bhool rahi hai," Veer speaks in that same voice, the voice that drips with entitlement. "Ma sahab."

Nalini bites back the memory as she faces the reminder of everything she hates. Veer is that living monument of her defeat, of her weakness.

She has spent a lifetime seeking for power that would erase that feeling of insignificance. She had thought she won. But here he stands now, as if a day had not gone since that cursed night - watching her with the haughty assurance that she had no option but to comply - waiting for her to hand over her painstakingly accumulated power.

Unwillingly, if not a little disturbed by the resurrection of those long suppressed memories Nalini hands him the ornate seal of Shrighar - a symbolic exchange of authority.

If the crowd had expressed their happiness neither of them hears. There is a ringing in her ears as Nalini turns away immediately, wanting to leave, unable to bear a moment longer in the presence of her late husband's look - alike.

Veer lets her go, similarly not bothered with their audience. Instead he has his eyes on the black clad woman who helps Rani sahiba back towards the stairs.

"Dai ma," he calls to her. "I want you to convene the staff - entire staff for a formal greeting to the Kuwar Rani, you people are yet to properly welcome your mistress. Then I want you to hand over your duties to Menka ji."

"Kuwar sahab -?"

Veer's face is set in uncompromising lines. He simply shrugs.

"New master - new rules."

"Oh will you be throwing people out now Veer?" This time it is Nalini who speaks, her voice placid yet a study in displeasure.

"Of cause not," Veer smiles. "I'm merely pointing out that when the queen changes so should her staff. Dai ma is your maid, ma sahab - you are the queen mother now - as such - she can remain a part of your household, not ours."

He reaches for Amrit, leads her to take precedence and follows with a hand on her back. Dai Ma looks away when he pauses beside her.

"Entire staff, in an hour."

*

It is indeed too much to wage war and hope to escape unscathed.

Amrit realizes the moment they step inside. It was one thing that Rani sahiba allows her shock to delay her hands, but traps for them are already laid out. It takes very little time for her smile to return.

"Not through there," she calls after them.

Veer stills on his tracks and so does Amrit wondering what on earth was running in this woman's mind now. Rani sahiba approaches them again, Dai ma at her elbow, a rather superior look on her face.

"You've returned as the master of the house Veer, you should take up the appropriate residence as well. The king's chambers are through here."

Amrit reaches and covers Veer's fist with a cold hand of her own. His exhale in reply is audible in her ear. Something akin to victory flashes across Nalini's face. It hurts her, hurts her in a way that has Amrit gritting her teeth.

"Shaan might have arrived by now na?" She asks Veer instead. "Aap ko jaana tha na usse dhekne?"

Veer doesn't register immediately.

"Veer," she wraps an arm around his, drawing closer to mutter into his ear, wanting nothing more than to break that vicious eye contact.

"Huh?" He jerks out of it, turning his eyes on her.

"Aap ko jaana tha na? Shaan se milne? To see if everything's fine there? Aap jaaiye, I will unpack our things with Menka ma and tell them where to put everything. You can't simply settle into a new set of rooms, there are things to be done."

She says the last meeting Nalini Devi's gaze, if the woman reads the resentment there Amrit does not mind. The look Veer gives her makes her heart brim. She gives him a reassuring smile as his eyes search her face.

"Jaaiye," she says. "Rukzaar will you go with Bhaijaan?"

"Of cause Babhi jaan," Rukzaar agrees at once, throwing a dirty look of her own towards the matriarch of Daulatabadh as she comes to stand beside Veer.

As they leave they take with them the ruse of peace that prevails. In Nalini Devi's face there is nothing but an invitation to war. Her lips tug mockingly as her eyes sweep over Amrit.

"Kab thak bachathi rahongi?" She asks. "Yeh Sach hai bahu, laak pardon mein bhi nahi chupta."

Menka reaches to grip Amrit's shoulder but she steps closer to Nalini before she could be held back.

"Kab thak?" She repeats. "As long as it is necessary. Aur rahi baat Sach ki, yeh Mujhe bhi patha hai Rani ma. Yahaan koi Aisa sach hai jo laak pardon mein chupaya gaya hai. And I'm going to find that very soon. When I do - you will be one of the people I will demand answers from."

"What makes you think you can demand anything from me? Battameez ladki-!"

"I can demand a lot of things. I haven't begun yet, but I will. If you don't wish to be told off under your own roof, you will not try anymore of your sly plotting."

"How dare you -!"

"Veer ke saat kuch bhi hua toh anjaam achcha nahi honga Rani ma. Maaf kijiye, par meri dil Itni bhi badi nahi hai ke kissi ko bhi ma maan loon. I always thought that when I get married my mother in law will fill the void left by my mother. But you haven't managed to be a mother to your own son - I will never forgive you for ruining him, ruining this family. So stop now, or I shall have to take retribution as well."

"What do you think you will be able to do?"

As the woman speaks from the staircase behind her, the very one that used to lead to their chambers, Randheer comes down. His eyes are tentative as he looks her over. Amrit stiffens and Nalini sneers.

"Woh adha adhura aadmi joh kabhi koi kaam poora nahi karta usse Shrigar ke gaddi par bitha dongi?" She asks condescendingly. "Is that what you want? A throne for yourself at whatever cost?"

"Haan," Amrit bites out, her temper rising. "He is not an incomplete man and that throne is his birthright. He doesn't need me or anyone else to put him upon it - unlike some other people.

"The struggle here is not to take what is already his, it is to stop others from snatching it from him like many other things. You may have a habit of winning Rani ma, but that is because no one had dared to challenge you yet.

"That is one of the things that will change around here. Look at me, I am here to take every single thing you've taken from him. Veer Pratap Singh uss gaddi par beithenga, aur aap kuch nahi kar paayengi. Yeh Amrit Veer Pratap Singh ki waada hai, nabha kar ki chhodengi."

*
Aah end of the week, I had two papers. Two more to go.
Did you check put Kaanch Si Mohabbat? If not now is a good time to take a look at my new Amveer story, in my profile. 😊

This is sort of a transitional chapter, we will have more action in the upcoming week.

As usual share your thoughts, vote and comment!

Thanks for all your wishes of good luck for my exam! :-)