Chaitra

The next morning when I woke up, a shy smile graced my lips as I remembered the previous night's happenings. I did my morning routine and got ready in a simple saree and wore my earrings and bracelet to complete my look. I curled my hair at the bottom, applied pink lipstick that matched my blouse and added eyeliner to highlight my eyes.

After having a final glance of myself in the mirror, I walked out of my room in search of my to-be husband who asked me to meet him at the Amar Vilas. I found him busy on a call when I reached there and took my time to appreciate the gorgeous creation of god for me. Once he was done with the call, he rounded his folded fists around me and touched his knuckles to his forehead making me giggle. Then he placed a long kiss on my forehead.

"You are looking gorgeous," He breathed out, his lips still on my forehead and I wrapped my hands around his torso and placed a kiss on his chest over his shirt, "You are looking handsome too," I mumbled and got his chuckle in reply. He pecked my hair and guided us somewhere with my hands wrapped around his bicep.

He took me to Badi Mahal/ Garden Palace and the swimming pool there grabbed my attention immediately. I was awed by the beautiful wall paintings of temples. I ran my hands over the paintings feeling their texture with my fingers. Once I was satisfied, Daksh took me to Bhim Vilas & Krishna Vilas where numerous paintings of Shree Radha Rani and Shri Krishna were displayed. Those paintings were a feast to my eyes and I tried really hard not to blink while I admired their beauty. After showing me Chini Chitrashala, Choti Chitrashala, and Manak Mahal.

Daksh then took me to Rang Bhavan where the temples of Lord Krishna, Meera bhai, and Shivji were located. It was dome-shaped with shining gold walls. Daksh said this used to be the treasure of the kings which was later converted into temples. This time, Daksh did cover my head while offering prayers and we both shared a smile reminiscing the time I asked him to do the honors when we visited a temple here in Rajasthan.

After that, Daksh took me to Mor Chowk. That chamber was beautiful with three peacocks illustrating the summer, winter, and monsoon seasons. Daksh explained the peacocks were designed with 5,000 glass pieces and those glasses were in green, gold, and blue colors adding elegance to the picturesque background. When I looked up, there was a projecting balcony with a ceiling studded with glasses reflecting the beauty of the room.

"These peacocks are so pretty," I awed at the beautiful artwork shining in the morning rays.

"Mine is the prettiest. She doesn't even need all these color pieces to enhance her beauty, " Daksh's confident voice filled with adoration reached my ears.

"You have a peacock?" I mused as he never mentioned having one and the way he boasted about it made my interest perk up

"Yeah, right here, in front of me. You can turn around if you want to see," I did as asked as I was confused about what he was referring to.

As I turned around, I was greeted with the reflection of me gazing back at me through the mirror. My eyes moved down in shyness as my cheeks gained color.

Daksh walked to me and guided my chin up with his right thumb and index fingers as his left hand rested on the curve of my waist.

"Isn't my peacock more beautiful?" He asked in a soft tone as he pressed a gentle kiss on my temple. I nodded unable to form words.

"I know it's supposed to be peahen but peacock sounds more beautiful. So, shall we, my dear peacock?" He forwarded his hand and I slid mine in, intertwined our fingers together as we continued with our tour.

Daksh took me to Sheesh Mahal which was built by Maharana Pratap for his wife Maharani Ajabde who happens to be his first and favorite wife. Even though the Mahal was breathtakingly beautiful, I couldn't help the uneasiness in my heart. Daksh held me from the back and placed a kiss on my forehead and I leaned back onto him.

"What happened, Jaan?" Daksh cooed as he placed a kiss on my temple.

"I don't know. I am not liking it. Why such a great warrior like his highness couldn't be a one-woman man? I mean if he really loved his first wife, then why did he marry the others? What is the use of building this palace for her if he can't stay only hers? I know it was common back then and most of the kings did it to make strong alliances but I still can't accept this idea of having multiple wives. I admire his highness as a great warrior and I am proud of him but the mention of his wives always makes me feel bad. You know after reading about almost all kings having many wives I stopped thinking about my prince charming. I didn't want to be the favorite or one of the many. I want to have my husband all for myself just the way he will have me all for himself." I bore my heart in front of him. He turned me around and cupped my cheeks placing a long kiss on my forehead.

"The times back then were like that and it was no big deal for kings to have multiple wives but I agree with you about having rights on each other and being the only one to each other. I can't do anything about what elders did or what others do, but I promise my loyalty to you. You will be the only woman I will have feelings for until death do us part. I belong to you and only you just like you belong to me, my Jaan. I won't even let other women wander in my thoughts and it's a promise." I nodded and placed my head on his chest hugging his torso. He kissed my hair and mumbled "My little jaan," and we stayed like that for a while.

"Our wedding rituals will start tomorrow and we won't be allowed to leave the palace after that. Do you want to go somewhere before that, Jaan?" Daksh asked caressing my hair and I shook my head in denial.

"What about your wedding lehenga? Don't you want to select it?" He whispered as he ruffled my hair.

"No, you select one for me. Your Jaan wants to shine in your selection on our special day," I confessed. I was very excited to select my outfits for the wedding but then I realized my brothers and Daksh always got me something more beautiful and precious than what I wished for and decided to let them have it their way.

I can also blame it on them if something goes wrong. I know I am evil.

After that Daksh showed me a few gardens and we enjoyed our time together till evening without anyone disturbing us, just the way I promised him. Daksh dropped me to my room in the evening and I took a small nap.

I heard a thud sound and jerked awake. I ran my eyes around the room and found my dear monkey Hithen dusting his clothes. He again came through the window.

"Door vade option undhi telusa sir meeku," I asked sarcastically at which he rolled his eyes and plopped beside me taking a pillow in his arms.

(You know there is an option of using the door to enter sir?)

"I am practicing to jump into my future wife's room. Now go open the door for Bava and Dev bhai," He hit my forehead, I hit his bicep and walked to the door rubbing my head. I opened the door and my brothers entered with a smile. They both kissed my forehead and sat on the bed.

"Go change into something comfortable Chotu. Today we will have siblings time out before they lock you here from tomorrow," Dev bhai urged and I sprinted to the closet. I wore baggy jeans and a tank top before rushing out. If anyone sees my enthusiasm they might think I was caged for years when in reality I came back only an hour back.

We drove through the streets of Udaipur as we sang along with the lyrics playing on the radio. When we reached our favorite street food spot, Annayya bought us Maggie and Momos. We had our food and sat on the banks of the river enjoying our time chatting about our childhood and how we used to mess with each other.

We didn't realize when it became midnight in our chats and it was already 4 a.m. by the time we returned. There was no way we walk in through the main hall as many people might have woken up by now and must be working. Hithu climbed the pipe and entered my room first after which he along with Bhai and annayya helped me into the room.

"It reminded me of the time we all got wasted and Chithu sneaked us in without letting anyone notice," Dev bhai reminisced with a smile, and let me tell you it was not once but many times. Hithu is considerate of his alcohol intake but these two used to get wasted and used to behave like literal kids, it was until they both became CEOs and now they always keep a check on their alcohol consumption.

After we all settled on my bed, we started to talk again and one by one all of us dozed off, thankfully my bed was large enough, and given our not-so-good sleeping positions it wasn't a problem for us to sleep.

I woke up when I heard a knock on the door followed by Maami's voice asking me to get ready. I looked at my brothers who were sleeping without caring about the world. Hithu's head was on Dev bhai's stomach and his legs were hanging down from the bed. Dev bhai was the only one who slept horizontally with all of us sleeping vertically. Annayya's head was on my shoulder and his hand was on Hithu's stomach as he set his back to me. My head was on Dev bhai's chest and his hand was around my neck.

I gently pushed Annayya off my shoulder and he snuggled into Hithu who wrapped his hands around him. I took off Dev bhai's hand around me and climbed down from the bed. I opened the door and told Maami I would be there in a while. Maami left after scolding us for our carelessness and like always I was the only one who heard all of the scolding because my brothers were busy sleeping.